Care minister Stephen Kinnock was pressed by BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay on his dad Neil Kinnock’s call for Labour to finally axe the two child benefit limit
Stephen Kinnock quizzed on his father’s two-child benefit cap comments
Neil Kinnock’s minister son faced an awkward grilling over his dad’s demand that the two child benefit cap is scrapped.
Care minister Stephen Kinnock was repeatedly asked about his father’s comments – made in an interview with the Sunday Mirror. The former Labour leader, who was at the helm from 1983 to 1992, said at the weekend: “I would want them to do it (abolish the cap). They may not be able to do it all at once, but I really want them to move in that direction because the figures are that if that did occur it would mean that about 600,000 kids, fewer, are in poverty.”
BBC Breakfast host Jon Kay asked the junior Mr Kinnock what his views were – but he pointedly declined to say. The minister said: “Obviously decisions like that have major financial implications. They are a matter for the Chancellor. She will be bringing forward the budget in October. It comes after Gordon Brown blasts the return of ‘poverty of 60 years ago’ as he makes one big demand.
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“So I’m sure you’d agree, it would be wrong for me to start speculating about the Budget at this time.” Mr Kay pressed: “But if you are having a chat with your dad, would you say he’s right or wrong?”
Mr Kinnock responded: “You’ve invited me onto this program as a government minister, and I am saying very clearly to you, that any decisions which have financial implications, major financial implications for the government, are a matter for the Chancellor and the Prime Minister and the Cabinet, and nobody else.”
The Government is facing growing pressure to axe the two-child benefit limit – one of the most severe cuts to the welfare state by austerity Chancellor George Osborne. Lord Kinnock senior said doing so would be the “immediate and direct way of trying to correct the conditions the government inherited”.
The policy, which restricts Universal Credit and Child Tax Credits to the first two children, has been blamed by charities for trapping kids in poverty. The former Labour leader said tackling child poverty – among other issues facing the country – could be paid for by a tax on the assets of the super-rich or a hike in levies on the top 1%.
He told The Mirror: “I think people would see the justification of increasing taxes on assets and the very, very highly paid – I’m talking about the top 1% – in order to make the transfer directly to reduce child poverty.
“I know it’s the economics of Robin Hood, but I don’t think there is anything terribly bad about that.” Lord Kinnock has previously said a 2% levy on asset values over £10million – a “very big fortune” – could bring in around £11billion for the Treasury. He added: “The thing is we live in a fair country where the instincts are fair, so people approve of the idea of the broadest backs bearing the heaviest burden.
“Of course the very rich do make a substantial contribution. It’s not enough. And it hasn’t kept pace with the increase in their asset wealth. Simple and straightforward as that.”
Earlier this year official figures showed a record 4.5million children living in poverty. Pressed on what this said about the state of the nation, Lord Kinnock said: “All you’ve got to do is reflect where we were under Gordon Brown’s government when they cut child poverty gigantically by millions. In 15 years, starting from a position where beneficial change was taking place, we’ve got to the place that would make Charles Dickens furious.
“It’s been allowed to happen because the kids are voiceless and their parents feel powerless. I defy anybody to see a child in need and not want to help.”
Keir Starmer has previously vowed to slash the number of kids living in poverty. And Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who is leading the child poverty task force alongside Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, has suggested ending the two-child benefit limit remains on the table.
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