Rachel Reeves is determined to ensure that the elimination of the two-child benefit limit remains permanent and cannot be reinstated by Reform UK or the Conservatives. The Chancellor emphasized the importance of preventing any political party from proposing the reintroduction of the unpopular policy, which was recently abolished and is expected to lift 450,000 children out of poverty.
Initially implemented during the austerity era by Chancellor George Osborne, the policy restricted Universal Credit to the first two children in a family and was criticized for exacerbating child poverty. Despite pledges from Nigel Farage’s Reform UK and Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives to bring back the two-child benefit limit, Reeves affirmed her commitment to safeguarding the policy’s removal.
During a reception at No11 Downing Street celebrating the policy’s abolition, Reeves stressed the need to ensure its longevity under a Labour government. She underscored the ongoing importance of advocating for policies that have a positive impact and enjoy broad public support to prevent any future attempts to reverse progress.
Speaking ahead of the reception, Reeves commended the efforts of campaigners who pushed for the policy’s removal, highlighting the significant impact on lifting children out of poverty. She criticized the plans of Reform UK and the Tories to reinstate the two-child benefit limit, warning that such a move would plunge 450,000 children back into poverty.
The decision to scrap the policy last year followed internal divisions within Labour, with seven MPs suspended for rebelling against the government’s stance. When questioned about the timing of the policy’s abolition, Reeves emphasized the party’s long-standing commitment to reducing child poverty and highlighted financial measures taken to fund its removal, including new taxes on online gambling.
Overall, Reeves emphasized the importance of preserving the progress made in combating child poverty and ensuring that policies with positive outcomes are not reversed.