More than forty prominent British celebrities have united in an urgent demand for the Labour government to abolish the controversial two-child benefit limit in the upcoming Budget.
Celebrity Coalition Demands Change
In a powerful letter organised by food bank charity Trussell Trust, figures from entertainment, sports, and culinary arts including Bill Nighy, Simon Pegg, Stanley Tucci, and Jodie Whittaker have implored Prime Minister Keir Starmer to take immediate action. The letter states they 'cannot stand by while this continues to happen' and describes the policy as 'punishing children for their existence.'
The two-child limit, introduced in 2017 under Conservative leadership, restricts child tax credit and Universal Credit support to the first two children in most households, regardless of whether their parents are working. According to the signatories, this policy is pushing 109 more children into hardship every single day and driving families to food banks.
Personal Testimonies Highlight Human Cost
Reggae Reggae Sauce creator Levi Roots, who experienced poverty firsthand, told The Mirror: 'I know what it's like to face hunger and hardship. It's shameful that in 2025 families continue to struggle to feed their children.' Roots, who grew up on benefits in Lambeth during the 1970s, emphasised that nobody wants to rely on hand-outs but stressed the importance of having proper support systems.
Actor Mark Bonnar, recently seen in BBC's Celebrity Traitors, provided a stark assessment: 'Our social security system should be protecting families who don't have enough money for the essentials. Instead it's punishing the most vulnerable in society. The two-child limit is pushing families to food banks and literally punishes kids for having brothers and sisters.'
Government Signals Potential Policy Shift
There are strong indications that the Labour government may be preparing to act on these demands. Both Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Chancellor Rachel Reeves have recently made statements suggesting the policy could be ditched in the November 26 Budget announcement.
Starmer declared his personal determination to drive down child poverty rates, which currently stand at a staggering 4.5 million children. He promised: 'I can look you in the eye and tell you I am personally committed to driving down child poverty.'
Meanwhile, Chancellor Reeves stated she didn't believe it was right that a 'child is penalised because they are in a bigger family.' The celebrities' letter argues that removing the two-child limit represents the most effective way to protect children from hunger and would lift approximately 470,000 children out of poverty immediately.
The full list of signatories includes footballers Tyrone Mings and Kalvin Phillips, comedians Romesh Ranganathan and Aisling Bea, chefs Tom Kerridge and Levi Roots, and actors including Jason Isaacs, Christopher Eccleston, and Anna Maxwell Martin.
