North East MPs react to two-child benefit cap vote

It came after Parliament moved a step closer to scrapping the cap after legislation cleared the first stage in Parliament.

MPs voted 458 to 104, majority 354,to scrap the policy, ensuring the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill passed at second reading.

Chair of the North East Child Poverty Commission, Beth Farhat, said: “The two-child limit has been the single biggest driver of rising child poverty, both here in the North East and across the country, over the last decade.

“This legislation therefore marks the beginning of the end of one of the worst policies imposed on children in modern times.

“Scrapping this policy, in full, from April will immediately lift tens of thousands of children out of poverty across our region, and will mean tens of thousands more experiencing less deep hardship.

“This is absolutely critical if we are to improve life chances and break down barriers to opportunity for every baby, child and young person growing up here in the North East.

“We know this isn’t a silver bullet, and there is still much more to do – but this is a massive step in the right direction towards ensuring every child has the best start in life and the chance to achieve their potential.”

The policy, introduced under the Conservatives in 2017, was branded a political exercise in division between the “deserving and undeserving poor” during a debate in the Commons ahead of Tuesday’s vote.

City of Durham MP Mary Kelly Foy said: “I am absolutely delighted that we are finally consigning the cruel and pernicious two-child limit to the history books.

“For years, I have stood in Parliament to back the tireless campaigners who have long argued that this policy was unfair, unjust, and was pushing families into poverty.

“By scrapping this cap, we are sending a clear message: that every child, regardless of the order they were born into their family, is valued.

“This is another prime example of how this Labour government is ensuring that all children, in Durham and across the country, get the very best start in life that we can possibly give them. We aren’t just reducing poverty; we are restoring hope and dignity to our communities.”

The bill will be further scrutinised by MPs and peers before it can become law, but the Government has said it wants to ditch the two-child limit from April.

Newton Aycliffe MP Alan Strickland said: “The Tories plunged thousands of working families into poverty by restricting benefits for those with more than two kids.

“This Labour government believes every child deserves the best start in life and I was proud to vote to scrap the two-child cap this evening.”

The policy currently restricts child tax credit and universal credit (UC) to the first two children in most households, and campaigners have argued 109 children across the UK are pulled into poverty by the policy every day.

The change, if the Bill passes into law, would mean families can receive the child element of UC for all children, regardless of family size.

North Durham MP Luke Akehurst said: ” I’m proud to have voted for removing the two-child limit so that families can receive the child element of Universal Credit for all children, taking 450,000 children out of poverty.”