An SNP bill to end the two child cap on benefits passed its first Commons vote this week in Westminster.
The draft law now moves to Second Reading after a split vote that sharpened the political dividing lines.
The Child Poverty Strategy Bill was introduced by Kirsty Blackman and would remove the limit on support for third and subsequent children in low income families.
The SNP was backed by the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, Plaid Cymru, the DUP, the SDLP, the Alliance Party, several independents and a small number of Labour rebels.
Scottish Labour MPs did not vote in favour after an instruction to abstain from the party leadership.
That stance drew an angry response from the SNP amid warnings about rising hardship for families.
“Keir Starmer must now accept defeat, listen to Parliament and end the two child cap,” said Kirsty Blackman.
“Today he instructed his MPs to sit on their hands and abstain, but despite his efforts our bill passed and the pressure to scrap the cap before the budget will only grow,” she said.
Ms Blackman said the division north of the border was stark.
“What is absolutely shameful is that not a single Scottish Labour MP backed us today leaving Scottish voters in no doubt that while Scottish Labour MPs lie down to their London Labour bosses, the SNP stands up for Scotland,” she said.
She framed the vote as a choice between austerity and practical help for families under strain.
“By teaming up with the Tories in an attempt to defeat the SNP bill, spineless Scottish Labour MPs tried to impose cuts instead of helping hard pressed families who are struggling to keep their heads above water in broken Brexit Britain,” she said.
Supporters of the bill argue that the cap denies essential support to larger households and pushes more children into poverty.
They say removing it would cut hardship most for families already juggling high costs for food, fuel and rent.
Figures cited by the SNP show children in poverty across the UK rising from 3.7 million in 2013 to 4.5 million in 2024 with numbers expected to climb further without action.
Ministers in Scotland point to the Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant and the Baby Box as reasons child poverty is falling in Scotland while rising across the UK.
Independent analysis highlighted by the party suggests that adopting Scottish style measures across the UK would lift large numbers of families from poverty.
Critics argue the fiscal costs are significant and say any move must be weighed against competing pressures on public spending.
For families in the Highlands and Islands the debate lands close to home.
Larger households in rural areas face longer travel, higher heating bills and fewer nearby services which can magnify the impact of shortfalls in support.
Charities and advice services report parents skipping meals and taking on debt to cover essentials.
Schools and community groups see the knock on effects in attendance, attainment and health.
This week’s vote does not change the law.
It opens a fuller debate on costs, savings and outcomes when the bill returns for detailed scrutiny.
“The SNP will continue to fight for action on child poverty and we will continue to deliver the best support for families,” said Ms Blackman.
“Voters were promised change but the UK has gone from bad to worse and the need to scrap the cap is urgent,” she said.
