A government minister said they cannot commit to changes without knowing how they will be funded as pressure grows to remove the two-child benefit cap.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said the new Labor government is committed to tackling child poverty but is not promising to remove the cap introduced by the Conservatives in 2015.
The cap means families can only receive child tax credits, which can be claimed by most parents or guardians, or Universal Credit for their first two children.
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The government faces its first major test as pressure continues to lift the cap from its own MPs, former Labor Prime Minister Gordon Brown and MPs from other parties, including the Conservative party.
However, Sir Keir Starmer and his ministers have so far refused to commit to lifting the limit, saying it will be seen as part of a working group to combat child poverty.
Kendall told Sky News’ Breakfast with Kay Burley: “I’m absolutely passionate about tackling child poverty.
“But we were elected promising that we would only make commitments when we showed how we can finance them.
“Let’s look [removing the two-child benefit cap] as part of this strategy, but we must show, through any commitments, how we will finance them.”
MPs in the House of Commons are debating the King’s Speech health announcements today, after King Charles outlined the new Labor government’s plans to parliament last week.
The government faces four amendments, including one from seven Labor MPs, calling on the government to scrap the child benefit cap.
A YouGov poll released last week revealed that six in 10 Brits support keeping the cap in place, however 18-24 year olds believe it should be scrapped.
Of those who voted for the Labor Party at the last general election, 50% think it should remain, while 38% think it should be lifted.
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Starmer avoids committing to consider scrapping child benefit cap
Key King speech announcements
Sir Keir Starmer faces first test of his premiership
On Monday, Sir Keir avoided committing to scrapping the cap after Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson told Sky News the government was “considering” it.
The PM said: “In relation to poverty, what the education secretary said this morning, I agree with what she said.
“She is passionate about fighting poverty. And child poverty in particular.”
Asked whether he would consider removing the cap, he said he had set up a working group to tackle child poverty, adding: “There is no silver bullet.”
Over the weekend, Treasury Minister James Murray defended keeping the cap in place, telling Sky News that unfunded spending commitments destroy the economy.
This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
