Question Time, held in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire on Thursday, saw the panel discuss the two-child benefit cap, which Keir Starmer has this week hinted at easing
The audience on BBC Question Time burst into giggles last night after a guest made a playful remark about “earning money”.
Ava Evans, a political journalist, argued the nation has a moral responsibility to ensure children do not go to school hungry “every day,” and so lifting the two-child benefit cap would save the taxpayer money. Sir Keir Starmer has this week hinted at easing the measure, introduced by the Tories to limit families to child tax credit and universal credit for their first two children, if they were born after April 2017.
The topic offered heated discussion on this week’s Question Time, held in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, during which an audience member suggested the removal of the cap would “encourage people not to work”. However, Ms Evans, political editor at PoliticsJOE, says: “Do you know that it is only £20 a week and then £17 for the additional child? I wouldn’t go into having a third child for £17 a week. It works out to be around £1,000 a year. I could think of other ways I could make money… Probably.”
At this point, in the clip below, the reporter smirks playfully at her risqué remark before the panel and audience snigger. Ms Evans can’t contain her giggles too, at which point fellow panelist Tim Montgomerie says: “Saucy.”
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Presenter Fiona Bruce remarks: “What an interesting way to start your time on Question Time.” Ms Evans composes herself to challenge comments previously made in the debate.
“Gordon Brown revealed there could be one million children that could be lifted out of poverty, just by ending the child-benefit cap… It will save the taxpayer £40billion in measures that are put in place to prevent these children from not dying… but this is really where we are at,” Ms Evans, whose sister is a teacher, told the panel as she argued to scrap the limit.
“Children are going to school every single day hungry, and they may not be eating lunch at school because they do not have enough money for lunch. When they get home, their parents are splitting their meals perhaps between three or four children. I think the least we could do on a moral point is allow these parents to have an extra £17 a week, so that a child doesn’t go hungry.”
The audience applauded the journalist, who on Thursday made her Question Time debut. Mr Montgomerie, a political activist and now a member of the Reform Party, even clapped at Ms Evans’ argument.
Keir ruled out scrapping the two-child benefit cap in 2023 but, when questioned this week, the Prime Minister said: “We’ll look at all options of driving down child poverty.” It is believed to be Mr Starmer’s strongest indication yet that he will lift the limit.