Keir Starmer has said Labour’s ‘moral mission’ is to fight child poverty as he launched a blueprint to lift over half a million kids out of poverty by the end of the decade
Keir Starmer has said Labour’s “moral mission” is to fight child poverty as he launched a blueprint to lift over half a million kids out of poverty by the end of the decade.
Writing for The Mirror as the government published its long-awaited child poverty strategy, Mr Starmer said: “People will tell you politics doesn’t make a difference. But the difference on child poverty could not be clearer. Tory Governments let it rise. Labour Governments cut it.”
Published today, the strategy says that by the end of the last Labour government in 2010 the number of children in relative low income reduced by 600,000 compared to 1997. But since 2010 “that progress has been reversed”, it adds, with a record 4.45million kids now living in poverty.
It includes previously announced measures such as increasing the minimum wage, reforming child maintenance payments and the warm homes discount. But other measures – including abolishing the cruel two-child benefit limit – will be central to reducing levels of child poverty. The government says all the measures combined will lift 550,000 kids out of poverty by 2030 Here The Mirror looks at the key parts of the government’s plan to reduce hardship.
Scrapping two-child benefit limit
The central policy in the child poverty strategy is scrapping the two-child benefit limit – something Rachel Reeves announced at last week’s Budget.
It was introduced by the Tories in 2017 and restricts Universal Credit and Child Tax Credits to the first two children in a family. It has been blamed for trapping kids in poverty but will now be abolished in April 2026.
The government says reversing this measure alone will lift 450,000 children out of hardship. The strategy states: “Removing the limit is the most cost-effective way to drive down child poverty rates – and it is the right thing to do.
“In modern Britain, the number of brothers and sisters a child has should not determine whether or not they will go hungry tonight.” It adds the majority of families who will benefit from this are in work.
Free school meals expansion and breakfast clubs
Announced earlier this year, the government expanded free school meals to all children in England whose parents receive Universal Credit.
Ministers say this will lift 100,000 children out of relative low income by 2030 alongside the roll-out of free school breakfast clubs in England’s primary schools.
The government’s strategy says it will mean over half a million more children from the most disadvantaged backgrounds will “get a free, nutritious lunch every school day”.
But there have been calls for the government to go further – including from The Mirror – to make free school meals available to all children, which is the case in London.
In an attempt to bring down the cost of school uniforms, ministers are also planning to force schools to limit branded items of uniform and PE kits they can require to three. It is estimated this could save some parents around £50-per-child from September 2026.
Stopping children living in B&Bs
The government will also end the “unlawful placement” of families being forced to stay in Bed and Breakfasts beyond the six week limit with an £8million emergency fund.
Official government figures released earlier this year showed a record 172,420 kids living in temporary accommodation, including 3,340 households with children living in B&Bs.
By law, such accommodation is meant to be used only as temporary accommodation in an emergency and for no longer than six weeks. C
Councils will also have a legal duty to notify schools, health visitors and GPs when a child is placed in temporary accommodation.
The Government said it will work with the NHS to “end the practice of mothers with newborns being discharged to B&Bs or other forms of unsuitable housing”.
Childcare boost for families on Universal Credit
Among new measures being unveiled include a childcare boost for families on Universal Credit.
The government said from 2026 rules will change to make it easier for parents in receipt of the benefit to get back to work by extending eligibility for upfront childcare costs to those returning from parental leave.
Downing Street said those starting or returning to the workforce can struggle to cover upfront fees before they receive their first payslip.