Sir Keir Starmer has mentioned his authorities “will look at” scrapping the two-child advantages restrict.
In his strongest trace but that he’ll carry out a U-turn – when requested if he would scrap the two-child profit cap, Sir Keir mentioned: “We’ll look at all options of driving down child poverty.”
The cap means households can solely declare baby tax credit score and common credit score for his or her first two youngsters, in the event that they have been born after April 2017.
It was launched in 2017 by the Conservative authorities, and in 2023, Sir Keir dominated out scrapping it.
Nevertheless, as Labour got here to energy final 12 months, he mentioned the occasion wished to take away the cap however solely when fiscal situations allowed.
However he then doubled down on refusing to raise it, suspending seven Labour MPs shortly after the election victory for voting with the SNP to take away the cap.
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Ministers had toed the occasion line for months, however the narrative began to shift in Could, with Training Secretary Bridget Phillipson telling Sky Information on Tuesday lifting the cap is “not off the table” – and “it’s certainly something that we’re considering”.
Sir Keir was additionally reported to have requested the Treasury to see how scrapping it may very well be funded.
His phrases on Thursday are his strongest indication but, that he may raise the cap quickly.
Learn extra:
What’s the two-child profit cap and can Labour scrap it?
Starmer confirms U-turn of unpopular winter gas coverage
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It could imply a second advantages U-turn after he made a shock announcement final week that he was going to calm down the winter gas fee lower.
The coverage, introduced quickly after Labour received the election, has brought on anger amongst Sir Keir’s personal MPs because it restricted the beforehand common fee to those that obtain pension credit score.
It should now be obtainable to “more pensioners”, however particulars of who and when haven’t been revealed.
