Reform UK would restore the two-child benefit cap in full, Robert Jenrick has announced, in a major policy reversal for the party. In his first speech as the party's Treasury spokesperson, Mr Jenrick said the previous stance of scrapping the limit had changed, citing the current unaffordability of welfare.
Speaking in the City of London, Mr Jenrick also outlined plans to reform the Motability scheme, which provides vehicles for disabled people, saying it would be changed to “end abuse”. He said benefits would be restricted to British nationals only, and that claims for conditions such as mild anxiety and depression would be stopped unless there was a clinical diagnosis.
The announcement drew sharp criticism from Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who described it as “shameful” and said it would push hundreds of thousands of children into poverty. Reform leader Nigel Farage said his earlier attempt to lift the cap for working British families had “failed”, leading to the change of course.
On economic policy, Mr Jenrick sought to reassure markets by confirming that a Reform government would keep the Bank of England independent and would not abolish the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). This appeared to conflict with previous remarks by Mr Farage, who has suggested replacing the Bank's governor and scrapping the OBR.
Mr Jenrick said the party offered “fiscal stability” and “radical reform”, and that the Bank would be stripped of its role in pursuing net-zero targets. He acknowledged the OBR was “far from perfect” but said Reform UK was “happy to have its homework marked”.
Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson accused Mr Jenrick of “trying to pull the wool over people’s eyes”. The U-turn follows a previous reversal by Reform UK on £90bn of tax cuts promised in its 2024 election manifesto.
