Labour's Phillipson suggests eliminating the cap on the two-child benefit.
In the ongoing Labour deputy leadership race, Bridget Phillipson has made a bold statement, declaring that abolishing the two-child benefit cap is "on the table." This move comes amidst a growing debate within the party over the contentious policy.
Phillipson, who has secured the backing of several trade unions including Usdaw, Community, and the National Union of Mineworkers, has been vocal about her stance on child poverty. She described the issue as "profoundly personal" and argued that allowing child poverty to worsen is a political choice that Labour must choose differently.
Phillipson's rival, Ms. Powell, has also weighed in on the matter, calling for ministers to be "clearer" about their wish to abolish the two-child benefit cap. The two candidates are vying for the deputy leader position, with Phillipson being seen as Downing Street's preferred choice for the role vacated by Angela Rayner.
The decision to rule out a debate on the two-child benefit cap at the party's conference has been a point of contention. Mainstream, a new Labour campaign group, accused the party leadership of blocking the bid, stating that crucial policy issues and Labour's offer to the British people must be debated at conference. Momentum, a left-wing group, also criticized the decision, citing it as an example of hyper-factional party management causing Labour to sink in the polls and members to leave in droves.
The Education Secretary has expressed a desire to tackle child poverty, stating that she wants a "mandate to go further" as deputy leader. However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has not committed to abolishing the two-child benefit cap, arguing that it is necessary to control public spending and encourage responsibility.
Interestingly, Phillipson's intervention suggests an increasing willingness in the Cabinet to reconsider the two-child benefit cap. The child poverty taskforce, of which Phillipson is co-chair, is expected to report ahead of the Budget in November with a strategy including recommendations on the two-child cap.
Mainstream proposed debating funding abolition of the cap through taxes on online gambling and back profits. This proposal could potentially provide a solution to address child poverty while managing public spending, a concern raised by Sir Keir Starmer.
As the Labour deputy leadership race heats up, the debate over the two-child benefit cap continues to be a significant issue, reflecting the party's commitment to tackling child poverty and its approach to public spending. The outcome of this debate could shape Labour's policy and its future direction.
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