Gordon Brown has urged for the complete removal of the two-child benefit cap, increasing pressure on Keir Starmer’s administration to take action. The former Labour Prime Minister criticized the alarming levels of child poverty in the UK as a stain on the nation’s conscience during a significant address on Thursday. This move coincides with Keir Starmer’s deliberation on revising or abolishing the Conservative-backed policy that charities blame for ensnaring children in poverty by restricting Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit to the first two children in a family.
There are indications that the government is exploring alternative solutions such as implementing a new tapered rate or imposing a limit of three children to mitigate the impact of this austerity measure. A child poverty review is anticipated to coincide with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget announcement on November 26.
Brown emphasized the detrimental impact of the two-child rule, attributing the rise in child poverty annually to this policy. He asserted that without abolishing this rule entirely, the government would struggle to meet its poverty reduction goals by the end of the Parliament and the new target for school readiness in children under five.
The former Prime Minister criticized the introduction of the policy by former Chancellor George Osborne, highlighting the need to eliminate the legislation that perpetuates prejudice. He discredited the notion propagated by Osborne that the policy was necessary to prevent taxpayers from subsidizing children of poor parents on benefits, stressing that the majority of affected families were actively engaged in work or had newborn children.
Brown also commended former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s efforts during the event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Child Poverty Action Group. He expressed shock at the current child poverty statistics, labeling it as the highest in 60 years, surpassing levels seen even during the Thatcher and Major eras. He emphasized the necessity for organizations like the Child Poverty Action Group to address societal injustices and inequalities.
Homelessness minister Alison McGovern, who spoke at the event, hinted at forthcoming government strategies to enhance family incomes and alleviate the financial burdens associated with poverty. She acknowledged the detrimental impact of child poverty on families’ financial stability and expressed the government’s commitment to addressing the root causes of this issue.