Bridget Phillipson emphasized the significant impact of the two-child benefit limit, calling for the elimination of the controversial Tory policy as pressure grows to address the issue.
As the Education Secretary and co-chair of a panel focused on combating child poverty, Phillipson highlighted that eradicating the limit is a key goal for the Labour Party. Over 100 Members of Parliament have urged Chancellor Rachel Reeves to scrap the cap, which restricts parents from receiving child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children.
Phillipson expressed her belief that more action is needed, stating that the impact of the policy is evident and must be addressed by reconsidering the two-child limit.
The Government is set to unveil a strategy in the Autumn outlining its initiatives to reduce child poverty. A group of 101 Labour MPs has proposed increasing taxes on gambling companies to fund the removal of the cap, a proposal endorsed by former Prime Minister Gordon Brown.
According to research by the Resolution Foundation, eliminating the cap would require £3.5 billion but would lift 470,000 children out of poverty. Phillipson emphasized her relentless efforts to secure free school meals and breakfast clubs, citing their importance in enhancing children’s life opportunities.
Keir Starmer faced a challenge early in his tenure as Prime Minister, with calls to abolish the cap introduced during the Conservative government. Labour MPs have pressed the Chancellor to act, stressing the need to prioritize children’s welfare over gambling companies’ profits.
The MPs highlighted the strain that gambling-related issues place on public services and the economy, advocating for fair taxation of the industry to address poverty and mitigate gambling-related harm.
Opt for Daily Mirror as a ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for timely access to your preferred news content.
At Reach and across our entities, we and our partners utilize data from cookies and other identifiers on your device to enhance your site experience, analyze usage patterns, and display personalized ads. You can manage your data sharing preferences by clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button on the webpage. Please be aware that your choices are specific to each browser. Your use of our website and services indicates your consent to the use of cookies and agreement with our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.