Leila Nathoo, the political correspondent, reported that the government’s child poverty strategy, originally scheduled for release in the spring, has been delayed. The Child Poverty Taskforce is still finalizing the strategy and is contemplating various measures, including the potential elimination of the two-child benefit cap – a move that some Labour MPs have been advocating for. Plans suggest that the strategy might be unveiled in the autumn, in time for the Budget, allowing ministers to outline how any policy alterations would be financed.
A high-ranking source from No 10 indicated that the government is actively addressing child poverty, highlighting initiatives like the introduction of free breakfast clubs, benefits uprating, and the increase in the minimum wage. The delay, which was first disclosed by the Guardian newspaper, elicited strong criticism from the SNP, branding it as “disgraceful”. Labour was accused by the party’s work and pensions spokeswoman, Kirsty Blackman, of prioritizing imitation of Nigel Farage over combating child poverty, which has reached unprecedented levels during Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Dan Paskins, director of policy at Save the Children UK, emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that every passing month without the abolition of the two-child limit plunges thousands of children into poverty. In contrast, Helen Barnard, director of policy at the Trussell Trust charity, viewed the delay as potentially positive, suggesting that it is better to have a delayed child poverty strategy with comprehensive measures than a rushed plan that falls short on substance. The Child Poverty Taskforce, co-chaired by Liz Kendall and Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, was launched in July to address the mounting pressure on the prime minister to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
The ongoing debate within the Labour Party regarding benefit cuts, exemplified by concerns related to the two-child cap, has intensified following the party’s disappointing performance in the recent local elections. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and other Labour figures have been vocal about the detrimental impact of the cap on children, labeling it as a driver of child poverty. Additionally, discussions around benefit cuts have sparked internal deliberations within the Labour Party on alternative avenues for raising funds rather than reducing benefits. The government’s decision to backtrack on withdrawing winter fuel payments from most pensioners was welcomed as a positive development, although the lack of specifics on the changes raised questions about the extent of impact and implementation timeline
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