> Sir Keir Starmer is set to face his “first major test” ahead of a likely vote on the two-child benefit cap.
> The SNP are set to bring an amendment to scrap the cap, which will be backed by MPs from Plaid Cymru, the Green Party, the SDLP, the Alliance Party, and independent MPs including Jeremy Corbyn.
> SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP has now urged Labour MPs in Scotland to back the amendment, arguing it is “the bare minimum required to tackle child poverty – and to begin to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised at the election”.
> It comes as new analysis by the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the SNP, showed an estimated 87,100 children in Scotland live in households hit by the two child cap over the last year – with a total of 1,486,760 children hit across Britain.
> Mr Flynn said: “The Labour government’s two child benefit cap is pushing thousands of Scottish children into poverty – and every day this shameful policy remains in place, more children will suffer the consequences.
> “Keir Starmer must not fail his first major test in government by refusing to scrap the cap. It is the bare minimum required to tackle child poverty – and to begin to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised.
> “Labour MPs have a choice today. They can lift children out of poverty by voting for the SNP amendment to abolish the cap – or they will push children into poverty by keeping it in place.
> “People in Scotland voted for change at Westminster – and the SNP is determined to work with the Labour government to ensure real and substantial change is now delivered. Where it fails, the SNP will do everything we can to hold the Labour government to account.
> “The SNP has worked hard to build cross-party support for this amendment, and it’s deeply regrettable that not a single Labour MP in Scotland appears willing to support it. I hope they will do the only right thing – and vote to scrap the cap today”
It will likely go at some point, but Sir K will do it when it suits him, not when the failing SNP jump about desperately for it.
It should stay capped, why should i as a childless tax payer pay to raise other peoples kids?! People popping kids out like it’s a hobby yet they can’t afford to look after them, so want other people to cover the bill.
Nah buy a packet of condoms/put yourself on birth control or take yourself to a clinic.
I do wonder on some statistics.
Like if any areas of traditional high unemployment and large families have birth rates dropped?
With areas of high children social work requirements (eg children having to go to foster/adoption) has there been a decrease?
Same with antisocial behaviours from children and abuse/neglect to children.
I’d imagine there are too many variables and other changes in the world to have a conclusive answer.
5 comments
> Sir Keir Starmer is set to face his “first major test” ahead of a likely vote on the two-child benefit cap.
> The SNP are set to bring an amendment to scrap the cap, which will be backed by MPs from Plaid Cymru, the Green Party, the SDLP, the Alliance Party, and independent MPs including Jeremy Corbyn.
> SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP has now urged Labour MPs in Scotland to back the amendment, arguing it is “the bare minimum required to tackle child poverty – and to begin to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised at the election”.
> It comes as new analysis by the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the SNP, showed an estimated 87,100 children in Scotland live in households hit by the two child cap over the last year – with a total of 1,486,760 children hit across Britain.
> Mr Flynn said: “The Labour government’s two child benefit cap is pushing thousands of Scottish children into poverty – and every day this shameful policy remains in place, more children will suffer the consequences.
> “Keir Starmer must not fail his first major test in government by refusing to scrap the cap. It is the bare minimum required to tackle child poverty – and to begin to deliver the change that people in Scotland were promised.
> “Labour MPs have a choice today. They can lift children out of poverty by voting for the SNP amendment to abolish the cap – or they will push children into poverty by keeping it in place.
> “People in Scotland voted for change at Westminster – and the SNP is determined to work with the Labour government to ensure real and substantial change is now delivered. Where it fails, the SNP will do everything we can to hold the Labour government to account.
> “The SNP has worked hard to build cross-party support for this amendment, and it’s deeply regrettable that not a single Labour MP in Scotland appears willing to support it. I hope they will do the only right thing – and vote to scrap the cap today”
It’s not really a test when the majority support the cap
https://yougov.co.uk/politics/articles/50140-public-support-retaining-the-two-child-benefit-limit-as-starmer-gears-up-for-first-rebellion
It will likely go at some point, but Sir K will do it when it suits him, not when the failing SNP jump about desperately for it.
It should stay capped, why should i as a childless tax payer pay to raise other peoples kids?! People popping kids out like it’s a hobby yet they can’t afford to look after them, so want other people to cover the bill.
Nah buy a packet of condoms/put yourself on birth control or take yourself to a clinic.
I do wonder on some statistics.
Like if any areas of traditional high unemployment and large families have birth rates dropped?
With areas of high children social work requirements (eg children having to go to foster/adoption) has there been a decrease?
Same with antisocial behaviours from children and abuse/neglect to children.
I’d imagine there are too many variables and other changes in the world to have a conclusive answer.