logo
Thousands more in poverty, say campaigners ahead of two-child limit anniversary

Thousands more in poverty, say campaigners ahead of two-child limit anniversary

Independent03-04-2025

An effort to tackle child poverty will 'fall flat on its face' if the two-child limit is not scrapped, campaigners warned ahead of the eighth anniversary of the controversial policy coming into effect.
Charities have been ramping up pressure on the Government to ditch the benefits restriction as part of its new child poverty plan.
The strategy is due to be published this spring, although the End Child Poverty Coalition has said it believes the document might not come until June.
Labour took office last year" data-source="">
Organisations working in the sector argue that 109 children across the UK are pulled into poverty by the policy every day.
The two-child limit was first announced in 2015 by the Conservatives and came into effect on April 6 2017.
It restricts child tax credit and universal credit (UC) to the first two children in most households.
While it applies across the UK, the Scottish Government has pledged to mitigate the policy's impacts for people there, although payments for this are not expected to begin until 2026.
The Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) – which is part of the coalition – estimated that by Sunday, 30,000 more children will have fallen into poverty under the policy since Labour came into office at Westminster in July.
The group said its analysis suggests an estimated 350,000 children would be lifted out of poverty immediately if the policy was scrapped.
While the group said this move would cost the Government around £2 billion, they claimed it would be cheaper than other measures.
The CPAG said increasing the child element of UC by £17 a week would cost £3 billion, while increasing the UC standard allowance by £25 a week would cost £8 billion.
CPAG chief executive Alison Garnham said: 'The Government's child poverty strategy will fall flat on its face unless it scraps the two-child limit.
'Every day the policy forces families to go hungry and damages the life chances of children up and down the country.
'Reducing the record high levels of child poverty in the UK will require a whole government effort, but abolishing the two-child limit is the essential first step.'
Reports earlier this year suggested that changing the two-child limit to a three-child limit could be under consideration as part of the strategy.
Separate analysis in February by the Resolution Foundation estimated this move – taken together with the benefit cap being scrapped – would cost around £3.2 billion in 2029-30 and reduce child poverty by 320,000.
The benefit cap is separate to the two-child limit.
Introduced in 2013 under the then-Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government, that policy limits the total amount a household can claim in benefits.
On Friday campaigners were planning to hand a letter to the Treasury, saying the two-child limit 'has to go'.
They warned: 'It cannot be scrapped for some families and not others as this would result in some of the most vulnerable families remaining in poverty – with no way to pull themselves out.'
The letter is signed by a range of groups, including Unicef UK, the National Education Union, food bank organisation Trussell and the National Children's Bureau.
A Government spokesperson said: 'No-one should be living in poverty, and we know that the best route out of poverty for struggling families is well-paid, secure work.
'That is why we are reforming our broken welfare system, so it helps people into good jobs, boosting living standards and putting money in people's pockets.
'Alongside this, our Child Poverty Taskforce is building an ambitious strategy to give all children the best start in life while we increase the living wage, uprate benefits, and support 700,000 of the poorest families by introducing a fair repayment rate on universal credit deductions to help low-income households.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

MPs call for UK to recognise Palestine after Government sanctions ministers
MPs call for UK to recognise Palestine after Government sanctions ministers

The Herald Scotland

time27 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

MPs call for UK to recognise Palestine after Government sanctions ministers

In response, Mr Falconer did not rule out the move, saying he had 'no doubt' he would return to the Commons to update MPs. It came as the UK imposed an asset freeze and travel ban on Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's security minister and finance minister, respectively. The move came alongside Australia, Canada, New Zealand and Norway. When asked about the recognition of Palestine by Liberal Democrat foreign spokesperson Calum Miller, Mr Falconer said: 'The two-state solution conference next week is an important moment we're discussing with our friends and allies our approach to that conference and no-doubt I will return to this house, with your permission Mr Speaker, to discuss further.' Surrounded by security guards, Israel's National Security Minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, centre, has been sanctioned by the Government (Leo Correa/AP) Mr Miller had said: 'The time has also come to listen to members on all sides of this House and officially to recognise the independent state of Palestine. Will the Government commit to taking this vital step at next week's summit in New York? 'Recognition will demonstrate the UK's commitment to self-determination but also make clear that, building on today's announcement, the UK will do all it can to wrest control away from the extremes and give both Israelis and Palestinians hope of a lasting peace.' Conservative MP for Herne Bay and Sandwich, Sir Roger Gale, had chastised the Government for not taking more action. He said: 'When the minister came to the despatch box, I had expected to hear something constructive. What we've heard is the sanctioning of two people. The United Kingdom Government could unilaterally recognise Palestine. The United Kingdom Government could show the world and lead.' He added: 'When is the Government going to do something?' Labour MP Abtisam Mohamed (Sheffield Central), who was denied access to the occupied West Bank earlier this year, agreed with the calls. She said: 'Annexation is real. It is happening. Partners in the region are calling for recognition before it's too late.' Ms Mohamed continued: 'Does the minister agree with me that we must not throw recognition into the long grass? That failure to recognise next week at the UN conference implies that Israel does have a veto, and that the Israeli government will continue to annexe and terrorise Palestinians in the West Bank. If we do not recognise now, there will be no Palestinian state to recognise.' Mr Falconer said: 'Recognition is right at the centre of any discussion of a two-state solution.' The minister had earlier told MPs the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine was in critical danger. He said the rhetoric of Mr Ben-Gvir and Mr Smotrich did not represent the majority of Israelis. He said: 'This is an affront to the rights of Palestinians, but it is also against the interests of Israelis, against their long-term security and democracy.' Later in the session, Green Party MP Ellie Chowns (North Herefordshire) accused the Government of doing the 'bare minimum' while Conservative former minister Kit Malthouse further pressed the minister on whether recognition at the summit is now 'off the table'. Mr Falconer said 'we are doing everything we can', adding: 'We are so incredibly frustrated by the scenes that meet us, meet everybody behind me, and I would say gently to (Mr Malthouse), he has no monopoly on the morality of this situation.' The minister went on to say settler expansion had increased hugely in recent years, and last year had seen the worst settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank on record. He added that this year is on track to be just as violent. 'This is an attempt to entrench a one-state reality,' he told MPs. He continued: 'The gravity of this situation demands further action. The reality is that these human rights abuses, incitement to violence, extremist rhetoric comes … from individuals who are ministers in this Israeli government.' Abtisam Mohamed who, along with fellow Labour MP Yuan Yang, was denied entry to the West Bank earlier this year (Roger Harris/UK Parliament/PA) Mr Falconer added: 'We have told the Israeli government that we would take tougher action if this did not stop. It still did not. The appalling rhetoric has continued unchanged. Violent perpetrators continue to act with impunity and with encouragement. 'So, let me tell the House now, when we say something, we mean it. Today we have shown, with our partners, two extremists we will not stand by while they wreck the prospects for future peace.' Shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: 'The situation in the Middle East and the suffering we are seeing is serious and completely intolerable. Dame Priti added: 'We all want to see a better future for the Israeli and Palestinian people, and the UK must continue to play a leading role in achieving this.' She told MPs the previous Conservative government considered sanctioning the two ministers. 'The minister will be aware that the sanctioning of individuals is always under review, that is the right policy,' she said. 'And in the case of Israel, this has been previously considered even by Lord Cameron, who has spoken of that in the last government.' DUP MP Sammy Wilson (East Antrim) suggested Mr Falconer is 'pandering to the increasingly loud anti-Israel voices on his backbenches', adding: 'The minister must know that this will not bring peace to Gaza.' Mr Falconer replied: 'I have spoken about the perilous decline of the situation in the West Bank, and indeed events of the last two weeks, and I've also spoken about the importance of co-ordinating with allies. So, I don't think I have anything further to say.'

UN urges UK to negotiate new Chagos deal that allows islanders to return
UN urges UK to negotiate new Chagos deal that allows islanders to return

The Herald Scotland

time28 minutes ago

  • The Herald Scotland

UN urges UK to negotiate new Chagos deal that allows islanders to return

But a panel of experts appointed by the UN Human Rights Council said retaining the base and continuing to bar Chagossians from Diego Garcia 'appears to be at variance with the Chagossians' right to return'. The Chagossians were expelled from the islands between 1965 and 1973 to make way for the joint UK-US base and have not been allowed to return. Although the UK-Mauritius deal includes a £40 million trust fund for the benefit of the Chagossians, the UN experts expressed concern that this would not provide an 'effective remedy' for the islanders. They also criticised an apparent lack of consultation of the islanders prior to the deal, saying: 'We are gravely concerned about the lack of meaningful participation of Chagossians in processes that have led to the agreement.' The experts added: 'In light of these significant concerns, we call for the ratification of the agreement to be suspended and for a new agreement to be negotiated that fully guarantees the rights of the Chagossian people to return to all islands of the Chagos Archipelago, including Diego Garcia.' Conservative shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel urged the Government to 'do the right thing (and) stop this'. She said: 'We have been warning from the start that this deal is bad for British taxpayers and bad for the Chagossian people. 'Now even the United Nations is saying the very same. 'Labour has completely ignored this community from the get-go, and failed to consult with them at every step of the way. 'It is why I have introduced a Bill in Parliament that would block the (agreement) and force the Government to speak to the people at the heart of their surrender plans.' The deal follows a 2019 advisory opinion from the International Court of Justice saying the islands should be handed over to Mauritius. As well as the fund for Chagossians, the UK has agreed to pay at least £120 million a year for 99 years in order to lease back the Diego Garcia base – a total cost of at least £13 billion in cash terms. The deal also includes provisions preventing development on the rest of the archipelago without the UK's consent, which the Government has argued will prevent countries such as China setting up their own facilities. The agreement has also been backed by the United States. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office has been contacted for comment.

Federal agencies were reportedly tracking foreigners visiting with Musk afraid they were trying to influence the mogul
Federal agencies were reportedly tracking foreigners visiting with Musk afraid they were trying to influence the mogul

The Independent

time31 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Federal agencies were reportedly tracking foreigners visiting with Musk afraid they were trying to influence the mogul

Federal agencies were tracking foreign nationals who visited Elon Musk over concerns that they could influence the tech billionaire, according to a report. Agencies, including the FBI and Department of Homeland Security, were reportedly among the agencies surveilling foreigners who met with Musk at his U.S. properties in 2022 and 2023, according to The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter. Officials at the FBI and others were briefed on the investigation, The Journal reports, which focused on overseas visitors from Eastern Europe and elsewhere 'who might have been trying to influence him.' The investigation, which predates the second Trump administration, did not result in any charges, the outlet reports. The Department of Homeland Security declined to comment when approached by The Independent. The FBI and representatives for Musk did not immediately respond. Concern surrounded sensitive contracts Musk's five companies hold with the U.S. government and the 'unprecedented access' he has to top government officials, according to The Journal. Musk's own companies have been promised or awarded nearly $21 billion by the U.S. government since 2008, according to data analyzed by The Independent. The vast majority of the funding comes from federal contracts with SpaceX, the private space company Musk founded back in 2002. The company holds Defense Department contracts for satellite launches, including for the country's secretive National Reconnaissance Office. Reports surrounding Musk's foreign associates being tracked follow his dramatic exit from Washington, D.C., which saw his relationship with President Donald Trump implode last week. Musk helped re-elect the president by launching his super PAC last year. Eyebrows were raised by staffers within the America PAC over Musk's association with foreign nationals, according to The Journal. Sources familiar with the PAC's inner workings told the outlet that they brought in extensive vetting to 'keep foreigners out.' The Journal reported last October that Musk raising security concerns. Musk was said to have spoken to the Russian president on the phone about business and geopolitical matters, officials with knowledge of the alleged conversations told The Journal. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed one telephone call took place between Musk and Putin where they discussed 'space as well as current and future technologies,' the outlet reported, but denied there had been regular conversations. When reached for comment from Musk at the time, a SpaceX spokesperson told The Independent the claims in the Journal were 'misleading' and 'unsubstantiated.'

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store