Sir Keir Starmer faces first backbench rebellion as PM over his refusal to scrap two-child benefit cap
SIR Keir Starmer is facing his first backbench rebellion as PM over his refusal to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
MPs have threatened to back amendments to the King’s Speech in a bid to force his hand.
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell said most think the policy should be scrapped “sooner rather than later”.
He said the scheme, which prevents parents claiming child tax credit or Universal Credit for more than two kids, led to “immense suffering.”
It came as figures showed the number of kids affected had risen 100,000 to 1.6million in a year.
Child Poverty Action Group says that scrapping the two-child limit would lift 300,000 children out of poverty and mean 700,000 children are in less deep poverty.
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has previously called the cap “inhumane”.
Sir Keir said in the election campaign that he would axe the cap “in an ideal world” but doing so would cost too much.
Responding to the figures, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said it was “a stain on our society” that too many kids were growing up in poverty but gave no indication Labour would abolish the limit.
She said she would be meeting with charities next week to discuss how to reduce child poverty rates.
The policy – which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or Universal Credit for more than two children – came into effect in 2017.
A YouGov poll for Times Radio showed it is supported by 60 per cent of people and backed by 50 per cent of those who voted Labour last week.