The two-child benefit cap is “holding back” children trapped in poverty across the North East, the education secretary has warned, writes Local Democracy Reporter, Daniel Holland.
Bridget Phillipson, who has pressed Sir Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves to abolish the cap in this month’s Budget, renewed calls for action to combat the “deep moral scar” of child poverty during a visit to her home region on Friday.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) in North Tyneside, the senior Labour minister said that the Government’s delayed child poverty strategy would be revealed “soon”.
Ms Phillipson is chairing a child poverty task force which had been due to report back in spring this year, but is yet to publish its findings.
A total of 170,000 children in the North East are thought to be living below the poverty line, 31% of youngsters growing up in our region.
According to the North East Child Poverty Commission, roughly 70,000 children and young people here are affected by the benefits cap, which prevents families from claiming Universal Credit support for a third or subsequent child.
Campaigners have warned that the cap is among the biggest drivers of child poverty and that removing it would lift 350,000 children out of deprivation overnight.
During her visit to Battle Hill Primary School, Ms Phillipson told the LDRS that child poverty “holds back our economy, it holds back our country, and it is a deep moral scar that we will tackle”.
Asked if abolishing the cap was a realistic option at the Budget this month, amid reports that Rachel Reeves could raise income tax, the Houghton and Sunderland South MP said that the cabinet was “looking at every way we can lift children out of poverty”.
Ms Phillipson, who was beaten by Lucy Powell in Labour’s recent deputy leadership contest, added: “We are looking at every way we can lift children out of poverty. Of course, considering social security measures is an important part of that. I have been clear about what the evidence tells us about the impact of the two-child limit.
“I have seen the impact in my community and right across the region, how it has damaged families and is holding children back.
“But that also has to go hand in hand with more opportunities around skills, more childcare provision, more support for families. Of course social security measures are an important part, but being able to find affordable and available childcare is a critical part of how families can work, can support their children, and that is why the investment we are making in early years education and massive expansion of childcare will also make a difference.
“From next year, half a million more children are set to benefit from free school meals. That will make a huge difference to families, that step alone will lift 100,00 children out of poverty. We aren’t waiting for the task force, we are getting on and making change happen.”
Daniel Holland
Reporter for the Local Democracy Reporter Service.
South West Durham News covering news across County Durham.
