Angela Rayner has voiced support for eliminating the two-child benefit cap to combat child poverty, labeling it as an “evil.” Reflecting on her own upbringing, the former Deputy Labour Leader emphasized the unfairness of penalizing children. She debunked the misconception that people have children solely for benefits, highlighting that the benefit amounts to just £20 per week.
In an interview with the Sunday Mirror, Rayner applauded the recent signals from Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves suggesting the abandonment of the two-child benefit limit in the upcoming November 26 announcement. Stressing the urgency to address child poverty, Rayner emphasized the detrimental impact of the cap on families.
Rayner rejected the notion that families exploit the system, pointing out the financial challenges of raising children. She urged the government to consider the evidence and uphold Labour values in addressing child poverty. Drawing from her own difficult childhood experiences, Rayner emphasized the need to support and not penalize children in vulnerable situations.
This week, over 40 celebrities, including Arlene Phillips, Mark Bonnar, Jason Isaacs, and Bill Nighy, united to call for the removal of the two-child benefit limit in the Budget. In a letter coordinated by the foodbank charity Trussell, they urged the Prime Minister to take immediate action to eliminate the limit and alleviate the hardship faced by children daily.
The two-child benefit limit, introduced during the Tory era in 2017, restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in most households. Prime Minister Boris Johnson expressed personal commitment to reducing child poverty rates, which currently affect 4.5 million children.