Labour to consider scrapping two-child child benefit cap, says Phillipson

Labour will “consider” removing the two-child child benefit cap, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has said, as pressure mounts on the government to scrap the controversial limit in a bid to reduce child poverty.

She told Sky News she “believes very, very strongly” in the cause, adding: “That’s why I’m delighted to be leading with Liz Kendall, our Work and Pensions Secretary, a taskforce across government to look at how we can reduce these numbers.”

She said “too many people” live in poverty in this country, and referred to measures such as universal free school breakfast clubs which aim to tackle the problem.

Asked about removing the two-child child benefit cap, she said: “This is not a policy introduced by a Labour government.

“We are aware of the evidence on this and, as part of the review that we will be conducting in the coming months, we will be looking at this issue in the context of a number of measures… to lift children out of poverty.”

She did not commit to removing the cap, but said the idea should be “considered.”