Keir Starmer promises a ‘number of measures’ will be unveiled to tackle child poverty when Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers the long-awaited Budget on November 26
Keir Starmer has dropped another hint the two-child benefit limit will be axed at the Budget.
The Prime Minister said he was personally determined to drive down rates of child poverty, which currently stands at a staggering 4.5million. He promised a “number of measures” will be unveiled to tackle the issue when the Chancellor delivers the long-awaited Budget on November 26.
It comes after Rachel Reeves gave a clear signal on Monday the two-child benefit limit, which restricts Universal Credit to the first two children in a family, will be scrapped. Mr Starmer told ITV’s Lorraine programme in an interview aired on Tuesday: “I can tell you in no uncertain terms, I am determined to drive child poverty down.
“It is what the last Labour government did and it is one of the things we are proudest of. I am personally determined that is what we’re going to do. You won’t have to wait much longer to see what the measures are.
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“Some of them are already in place – the free school meals, the breakfast clubs, free childcare – but look, we need to do more than that. I can look you in the eye and tell you I am personally committed to driving down child poverty.”
Pressed directly on the two-child benefit limit, he added: “You won’t have to wait much longer – but I wouldn’t be telling you we’re going to drive down child poverty if I wasn’t clear that we will be taking a number of measures in order to do so.”
Mr Starmer’s government has been considering the policy introduced by the Conservatives in 2017 as part of a child poverty review – due to report around the time of the Budget. There have been reports the government was considering watering down the policy to mitigate the impact, including moving to a three-child benefit limit.
But Ms Reeves appeared to suggest on Monday she favours full abolition as called for by former Labour Prime Minister, Gordon Brown. She said it was not right that a “child is penalised because they are in a bigger family” as she vowed to cut the number of kids in poverty.
The Chancellor told BBC Radio 5 Live it was important not to let the “costs to our economy in allowing child poverty to go unchecked”. She said: “In the end, a child should not be penalised because their parents don’t have very much money. Now, in many cases you might have a mum and a dad who were both in work, but perhaps one of them has developed a chronic illness, perhaps one of them has passed away.
“There are plenty of reasons why people make decisions to have three, four children, but then find themselves in difficult times.” Ms Reeves added: “Lots and lots of different reasons why families change shape and size over time, and I don’t think that it’s right that a child is penalised because they are in a bigger family through no fault of their own.
“So, we will take action on child poverty. The last Labour government proudly reduced child poverty and we will reduce child poverty as well.” A Treasury source suggested the comments were a clear signal of intent from the Chancellor.