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Sunday, November 10, 2024

Starmer Warned Against Failing First Big Test in Government

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The SNP has warned Keir Starmer not to “fail his first major test in government” by refusing to back a cross-party amendment to scrap the two child cap today (Tuesday) – as new figures show the devastating impact it is having on children in Scotland and the UK.

SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP is expected to press the SNP amendment to scrap the cap to a vote – and has called for Labour MPs in Scotland, and across the UK, to vote for 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”.

The SNP amendment is backed Plaid Cymru, the Green Party, the SDLP, the Alliance Party, and independent MPs including Jeremy Corbyn.

It comes as new analysis by the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the SNP and published today, shows 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.

Using the latest data, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, the research reveals the typical cost of the two child cap to families in Scotland this year is £287.92 a month, or £3455 a year, for families with three children, and £575.84 a month, or £6910 a year, for families with four children.

In total, some of the poorest families in Scotland have lost a combined £454.8million in financial support since the policy was introduced in 2017/18.

Across Britain, families have lost a total of £8.05billion in support.

The new analysis shows families in every part of Scotland are being hit by the punitive policy.

The data reveals Glasgow is the worst hit local authority in Scotland, with 4,500 households (64%) in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits not receiving financial support for at least one child as of April 2024. 

It is followed by Fife with 2,100 families hit, North Lanarkshire with 2,000 families hit, Edinburgh with 1,600 families hit, and South Lanarkshire with 1,500 families hit.

By percentage of households hit, Stirling comes off worst, with more than two thirds of households (67%) in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits not receiving financial support for at least one child as of April 2024.

It is closely followed by East Ayrshire (66%) and Aberdeen City, Moray, Glasgow, North Ayrshire, South Ayrshire, North Lanarkshire, West Dunbartonshire, Fife and Midlothian (all on 64%).

Commenting, SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn MP 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.

“The SNP government has made eradicating child poverty a priority, with progressive policies including the Scottish Child Payment, Best Start Grant and Baby Box but for every step Scotland takes forward, Westminster cuts are dragging us back.

“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.”

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