In an unprecedented and powerful intervention, the Church of England's most senior clerics have launched a scathing attack on the government's controversial two-child benefit limit, labelling it a 'cruel and unjust' policy that is pushing families into destitution.
The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, Justin Welby and Stephen Cottrell, have joined forces with over 50 fellow bishops to demand the next government scrap the cap, which they argue has become a significant driver of child poverty across the nation.
The Human Cost of the Cap
The policy, introduced in 2017, restricts child tax credit and Universal Credit to the first two children in most households. The bishops' letter starkly outlines the devastating real-world impact, stating it affects over 1.5 million children and leaves families struggling to afford basic essentials like food and clothing.
They argue that the cap fundamentally undermines the principle that every child is valued and should be supported, regardless of their birth order or their family's circumstances.
A Unified Call for Compassionate Change
This collective action represents one of the largest ever political interventions from the Church's bench of bishops. Their unified stance sends a powerful message to both the Conservative and Labour parties, challenging the political consensus that has kept the policy in place.
The letter emphasises that compassion and justice must be at the heart of the welfare system, urging a move away from policies that punish children for the size of their family.
Political Pressure Mounts
With Labour currently leading in the polls and hesitant to commit to abolishing the cap due to its significant cost, the bishops' intervention piles on considerable pressure. They frame the issue not merely as a fiscal calculation but as a moral test for the nation.
The bishops conclude that abolishing the two-child limit is a crucial and necessary step towards building a more just and compassionate society for all children in the UK.
