The controversial two-child benefit cap has forced an additional 30,000 children into poverty since Labour took office, according to new research. Introduced eight years ago under former Conservative chancellor George Osborne, the policy restricts welfare payments to the first two children in most families and now affects over 1.6 million children nationwide. Data from the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) shows 109 more children fall into poverty daily due to the cap, with no changes made despite Labour previously signaling it might scrap the “cruel” policy. Separate government plans to cut £5 billion from welfare spending could push another 50,000 children into hardship.
Scrapping the cap would immediately lift 350,000 children out of poverty and reduce hardship for 800,000 more, with CPAG estimating the move would cost £2 billion cheaper than alternatives like increasing Universal Credit payments. Child poverty has already surged from 3.6 million in 2010/11 to a record 4.5 million today, with projections reaching 4.8 million by 2030 without intervention. Charities, unions and even former Conservative ministers have urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to abolish the cap, with CPAG warning any anti-poverty strategy will fail without its removal. A government spokesperson maintained that “the best route out of poverty is well-paid, secure work,” as critics argue child poverty will keep rising without urgent reform.
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