Reform’s plan to defuse UK ‘advantages bomb’: Robert Jenrick vows to revive two-child profit cap and drive folks to PROVE psychological well being issues earlier than getting money in ‘Brits solely’ system

Reform would restore the two-child benefit cap and force people claiming disability cash on mental health grounds to prove they are sick before getting cash, Robert Jenrick vowed today.

The party’s pick for Chancellor if they win the next election said the party would orchestrate a major clampdown on handouts designed to fix a ‘broken’ system.

In his first speech in charge of Reform’s economic policy, former Tory minister Mr Jenrick said he wanted to ‘defuse the benefits bomb set to bankrupt Britain’. 

The two-child cap on receiving child benefits, eased by Sir Keir Starmer last year would be restored, in a reversal of Nigel Farage‘s previous support for ending it.

At the same time those who want the Personal Independence Payment (PIP) on mental health grounds would be forced to provide a clinical diagnosis instead of diagnosing themselves.

Those with ‘mild anxiety, depression and similar conditions’ would be barred from receiving cash and steered towards work, he said.

The cost of Britain’s main sickness benefit is forecast to jump by almost £20billion a year after Labour shelved reforms.

Only British nationals would be able to claim benefits, Mr Jenrick said, while also pledging to end ‘abuse’ of the Motability scheme, which allows PIP claimants to use their money to buy new cars to make it easier for them to find work.

Speaking in the City this morning Mr Jenrick said he was determined to reintroduce ‘fiscal discipline’ to the government system.

‘Our benefits system is broken. That is not fair and it is not right, it’s an economic and a moral disaster,’ he said.

‘That’s why I commit to you today, if we win the next election, Reform will defuse the benefits bomb set to bankrupt Britain.’

But Shadow chancellor Mel Stride said: ‘How can anyone trust a word Reform say when they change their policies every five minutes? 

‘They said they would scrap the two child benefit cap – now they say they won’t. Farage said he wanted to scrap the OBR – now they say it would stay. 

‘They made £140 billion of unfunded commitments at the election – now they can’t say which ones they still stand by. 

‘Their policies are never thought through and their numbers never add up. They are just like Labour – they will make big promises with no plan to actually deliver them.’

The Government announced in the autumn budget that the two-child cap is being scrapped from April. 

Seven Labour MPs were previously suspended for voting against the Government in backing motions to lift it.

The cap has prevented parents from claiming universal credit or tax credits for more than their first two children.

It was introduced by the Conservative government in 2017, and has been widely criticised by Labour MPs and anti-poverty advocate groups.

It is estimated the move will cost £3 billion by 2029-30, according to the OBR.

Mr Farage has previously suggested he could support ending the cap to encourage people to have more children. The same argument has been made by Reform’s education spokeswoman Suella Braverman.

Mr Jenrick himself only last week said that the policy was ‘sensible’. But today he said: ‘Reform is changing our policy on the two-child cap for universal credit. The policy was well-meaning.

‘We want to help British working families to have more children. But, right now, we just cannot afford to do so with welfare. So, it has to go.’

Sir Keir Starmer called Reform UK’s pledge to reinstate the two-child benefit cap ‘shameful’.

Additionally, official forecasts slipped out last month revealed that the annual bill for PIP is predicted to jump from £25.9billion when Labour came to office to a staggering £44.9billion by the end of the decade.

Paying for the increase alone would cost the equivalent of putting 2p on all income tax rates.

Last year, Keir Starmer abandoned plans to try to curb the growth of PIP payments following a revolt by Labour backbenchers.

And government sources confirmed that, despite ministers paying lip service to the need for welfare reform, there will be no legislation on the issue in the next King’s Speech in May.

The total number of UC claimants in Britain stood at 8.34 million in December 2025, up by almost a million from 7.36 million 12 months earlier.

Data published on Tuesday shows that more than three-quarters of this increase (775,790) was due not to new claims, but instead were people who moved onto UC from other benefits.

The Government has said the roll-out of UC across Britain should be completed this year, with any claimants still on legacy benefits due to be moved to UC by March.

The process of transferring people from older types of benefits to universal credit – known as the ‘managed migration’ of claimants – began on a small scale in May 2022, before being stepped up in April 2023.

Mr Jenrick said he would keep the OBR and maintain the independence of the Bank of England, but said both need reform if his party wins.

He criticised the budget watchdog and vowed to bring in more outside, proven forecasting expertise to bring in superforecasters, via competitions.

Reform UK would ‘make life easier’ for businesses by scrapping red tape and diversity targets if the party was in power.

A Reform UK government would back Heathrow Airport expansion, with emergency legislation to get the project going if necessary, with Mr Jenrick adding: ‘We will make sure that businesses have the grid connections they need to invest in AI, robotics and manufacturing.

‘And we’ll pass legislation to deliver the crucial infrastructure projects that have been bogged down for too long.’