The Work and Pensions Secretary refused to be drawn on the future of the two-child benefit limit – but said reducing child povety was a ‘top priority’ in an interview with The Mirror
Liz Kendall has insisted Labour is determined to follow in the footsteps of Tony Blair and Gordon Brown in slashing levels of child poverty in Britain.
The Work and Pensions Secretary said it was a “top priority” after ex-Labour PM Mr Brown described the issue as a “stain on the soul” of the country. During his time as Chancellor in Mr Blair’s government and as PM, millions of kids were lifted out of poverty – a decline that was reversed under the Tories.
With figures on the rise Mr Brown this week called for action to help “austerity’s children”. He labelled the two-child benefit limit – an austerity-era policy introduced by George Osbrone and blamed for trapping kids in poverty – as “cruel”
Asked whether she agreed with him, Ms Kendall told The Mirror : “Gordon is one of my great political heroes. His mission to drive down child poverty and his achievements along with Tony Blair and the last government, I think are one of the things I’m proudest of. We’re determined to follow in their footsteps and bring those child poverty figures down again.”
But rates of child poverty are on the rise and an official analysis of her government’s looming cuts to benefits suggests an extra 50,000 kids will fall into poverty. Many experts now agree the most effective way to lift hundreds of thousands children out of poverty would be to abolish the two-child limit.
READ MORE: Gordon Brown urges Keir Starmer to fix ‘child poverty emergency’ with major plan
Keir Starmer declined to scrap the measure ahead of the general election but there is speculation No10 could revisit it. Ms Kendall refused to be drawn on the future of the policy on Thursday as she appeared at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool, to launch a scheme to help young people into work.
The Cabinet minister said: “We’ve got a big commitment to a child poverty strategy. Child poverty will be going down at the time of the next election. And we’re going to look at all the possible levers for doing that. We will publish that strategy and set out how we will pay for it and you will, I’m afraid, have to wait.”
Pressed on her personal view of the policy, she said: “I’m a member of the government and I believe in collective responsibility and I also believe if I ever make a commitment I will know how I’m going to pay for it.”
Labour’s welfare chief also told The Mirror she understood concerns over looming disability benefit cuts – but insisted the reform was urgent. In March the government announced plans to cut around £5billion from sickness and disability benefits. Most of the savings will be made by restricting eligibility to Personal Independence Payments (PIP) – a key disability benefit.
Over 100 Labour MPs have suggested they cannot support the measure with Mr Starmer facing the biggest revolt of his premiership so far at a vote next month. And on Thursday evening the cross-party Work and Pensions Committee – led by Labour MP Debbie Abrahams – wrote to Ms Kendall telling her to pause the reforms.
Ms Kendall said: “I understand people’s concern and I understand people are anxious. But we are consulting with disabled people and the organisations that represent them on our PIP review, to look at the assessment process.
“I believe the task of helping people who can work, get work, is urgent.”
She added: “I am listening. I have great respect for Debbie Abrahams and members of the Committee. I am talking in detail with MPs… we want to get this right. I think the task of overhauling the system that has written off and denied people support for too long – there has been failure of the last government to deal with these problems – and I want to make a start.”
The Work and Pensions Secretary was also pressed on how long pensioners would have to wait to find out if they are eligible for winter fuel payments after Keir Starmer’s U-turn. But she said details would be set out at the “next fiscal event” in the autumn.
READ MORE: Angela Rayner ‘suggested tax increase’ on wealthier Brits in leaked memo to Rachel Reeves
She said: “He [the PM] wants to look at that eligibility threshold again so more people can get support and we will do that at the next fiscal event. You will have to wait until we make some further announcements. We want to act as quickly as possible, we are determined.”
The Cabinet minister’s comments came as she launched a programme aimed at helping young people to find work or training, or remain in employment. Appearing at Anfield Stadium she launched the first of eight young “trailblazer” areas that are being set up across the country – backed by £45million in funding.
It aims to match 18-21-year-olds to job or training opportunities in the regions. New figures will be published today showing the number of young people not in education, training or employment. The figure currently stands at 987,000.
She said: “Young people are our future – and yet for too long they have been denied access to the opportunities and support they need. At Liverpool FC, the home of champions, we are championing young people to get the skills, education and jobs they require to achieve their ambitions.”
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