Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has issued a stark warning that Nigel Farage's Reform UK will drag Britain back to the "Tory poverty years" if they gain power, specifically by reinstating the controversial two-child benefit limit. Brown's intervention comes ahead of a critical by-election in Gorton and Denton this Thursday, where over 6,000 local children are set to benefit from Labour's policy to scrap the cap.
Labour's Landmark Move to Lift Children Out of Hardship
In an article for The Mirror, Brown highlighted that Keir Starmer's mission to alleviate child poverty is taking concrete shape with the imminent abolition of the hated two-child benefit limit. This policy, which restricts families from claiming Universal Credit beyond their first two children, will officially be axed in April, lifting an estimated 450,000 children out of poverty by 2030. Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced this move at last year's Budget, addressing a measure that impacts nearly 1.7 million children across the UK.
Reform UK's Controversial U-Turn on Child Benefits
Brown pointed out that Reform UK, under Nigel Farage, has performed a dramatic U-turn on this issue. Initially, Farage had pledged to scrap the Conservative-era policy, which charities have long blamed for trapping children in poverty. However, last week, alongside his new Treasury spokesman—former Tory MP Robert Jenrick—the party declared it would reinstate the policy in full, a decision introduced by George Osborne in 2017. Brown condemned this reversal, stating it means Reform will "force children back into poverty" if they win power.
High-Stakes By-Election in Greater Manchester
Ahead of the by-election in Gorton and Denton, Brown emphasized that voters hold the fate of more than 6,000 local children in their hands. He framed the election as a clear choice: to support Labour's candidate, Angeliki Stogia, and continue efforts to lift children out of hardship, or to return to the "Tory poverty years" with Reform UK. Labour faces a tough battle to retain the seat, with both Reform UK and the Greens investing significant resources in the area, hoping to cause a major political upset.
Labour's Candidate Speaks Out Against Reform's Policies
Angeliki Stogia, Labour's candidate, told The Mirror that her motivation for entering national politics is the chance to change lives for the better. She noted that scrapping the two-child cap will mean children no longer going to school hungry or wearing outdated uniforms. Stogia urged Mancunians to reject Reform UK's "toxic division" and support her in the by-election, emphasizing the tangible benefits of having Labour MPs in power.
Starmer's Visit and Legislative Progress
Prime Minister Keir Starmer made a surprise visit to Gorton and Denton this week, marking his first trip since the by-election was triggered in January by the resignation of former Labour MP Andrew Gwynne. Starmer described the contest as a "straight fight" between Labour and Reform UK, arguing that only Labour can defeat Reform by fostering community unity against divisive politics.
On Monday evening, legislation to scrap the two-child benefit limit cleared its final stages in the Commons with a majority of 277 votes (361 to 84). Notably, Nigel Farage did not record a vote, while Robert Jenrick—who had accidentally voted with Labour to remove the policy two weeks prior—voted against the government's legislation. The bill will now proceed to the House of Lords before the policy is officially abolished in April.
Brown's warning underscores the high stakes of the upcoming by-election, positioning it as a pivotal moment in the fight against child poverty and a test of public support for Labour's progressive policies versus Reform UK's regressive stance.
