Former Labour leader Neil Kinnock has launched a scathing attack on the government's two-child benefit cap, labelling it as "cruel and ineffective". The policy, introduced in 2017, restricts child tax credits and Universal Credit to the first two children in a family.
Kinnock, who led Labour from 1983 to 1992, urged his party to commit to abolishing the measure if it wins the next general election. "This policy punishes children for the circumstances of their birth," he argued. "It's morally indefensible and does nothing to address the root causes of poverty."
Growing Pressure on Labour
The intervention comes as Labour faces increasing pressure from backbenchers and campaigners to reverse the controversial cap. Critics argue it disproportionately affects larger families and pushes an estimated 250,000 children into poverty.
Current Labour leader Keir Starmer has so far resisted calls to scrap the policy, citing fiscal responsibility. However, shadow ministers have hinted the position could change before the election.
Conservative Defence
The Conservative government maintains the cap ensures "fairness for taxpayers" by aligning welfare payments with those who support themselves through work. Ministers claim the policy encourages parents to consider their financial circumstances before having more children.
Kinnock dismissed these arguments as "Victorian-era moralising", pointing to research showing the cap fails to achieve its stated objectives while causing significant hardship.
