Top Labour minister grilled on DWP two-child profit restrict – ‘are you embarrassed’
A top Labour minister has been challenged on Labour’s refusal to axe the two-child benefit limit – a Tory-era policy blamed for trapping kids in poverty.
Cabinet minister Pat McFadden was pressed on the controversial issue after Scotland announced this week it would scrap the policy. The SNP-led government described the policy on Wednesday as “pernicious”.
Speaking alongside the Scottish First Minister John Swinney at the British-Irish Council summit on Friday, Mr McFadden insisted the UK government shared the desire to cut levels of child poverty.
But he was then told at a press conference that campaigners have long argued getting rid of the two-child benefit limit is the quickest way to lift kids out of poverty. He was asked: “Why is the First Minister’s government doing it and your government not? And are you embarrassed by that?”
Mr McFadden replied: “The First Minister’s government – like any government – will have to identify the money for that. That’s not happened yet.
“We believe this is about more than benefits. We have a child poverty task force looking at this. They will report next year. We [ Labour ] had a very good record on reducing child poverty and we hope to also reduce it while we’re in government this time.”
He added: “If we make a commitment we have to fund it, if we have more to say on this in the future, we would also be asked how it was to be funded.”
Mr Swinney added at the press conference he was “confident” scrapping the two-child benefit limit would lift children out of poverty in Scotland.
But the SNP leader said he will need the UK government to co-operate and provide access to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) database.
After a meeting with the PM on Friday morning, Mr Swinney said: “The PM indicated to me he would work constructively with us on taking forward that commitment, which is welcome because I need the cooperation of the UK government.”
Mr McFadden added: “We all have a desire to reduce child poverty.
“I understand the desire absolutely. I also understand the money for this commitment has not been set aside. But there has been a request for data from the DWP and like the PM I would ensure the UK government gives the Scottish government any data it needs for this. The desire to reduce child poverty is shared by both governments.”
The policy, which prevents people from claiming Child Tax Credits or Universal Credit for more than two children, was introduced by the Tories in 2017. Government figures earlier this year showed around 1.6 million kids are impacted.
But Keir Starmer has so far resisted calls to scrap it and has instead set up a child poverty task force that is expected to report back in the spring.
