UK Government two-child benefit cap

Template press release

[YOUR COUNCIL] Liberal Democrat Group are asking [YOUR COUNCIL] to call on the UK Government to scrap the controversial two-child benefit cap.

The two-child benefit cap, which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children, was introduced by the Conservative Government in 2017.

Data provided by the End Child Poverty Coalition shows that removing the cap would lift 250,000 children across the UK out of poverty.

The Child Poverty Action Group says the economic and societal effects of child poverty, including spending on public services, costs the UK £39 billion every year.

Commenting, [YOUR NAME], said:

“The devastating impact of the Conservatives two-child benefit cap is obvious to anyone, forcing families into poverty and costing the government millions in additional support. Its baffling that Labour, both locally and nationally, refuse to commit to scrapping this policy. If they want to give young people the best start in life, they need to commit to the meaningful changes that will make that happen.”

ENDS

Contact: [YOUR NAME AND PHONE NUMBER]

Notes

• Data on child poverty in [OUR AREA]
• A report from the Child Poverty Action Group says the economic and societal effects of child poverty, including spending on public services, costs the UK £39 billion every year.
• At their recent party conference in Bournemouth, the Liberal Democrats re-expressed their commitment to scrap the two-child limit, a pledge which was included in their manifestos for the 2017 and 2019 general elections. The Liberal Democrats say that investing just £1.3 billion to end the two-child limit would dramatically reduce overall expenditure resulting from child poverty.
• The text of the Council Motion can be found here: Giving [OUR AREA’S] children the best start in life

Council notes that:

• The two-child limit, introduced by the Conservative Government in 2017, restricts support in Universal Credit and tax credits to two children in a family.
• Analysis by the Child Poverty Action Group shows that 900,000 children living in poverty in England do not currently qualify for free school meals because the Conservative Government introduced an arbitrary £7,400 household income threshold in 2018.
• A new report by the Commons Education Select Committee warns mental health problems and cost-of-living pressures on families are among the complex reasons for increased absenteeism.
• Scrapping the two-child limit is the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty. It would lift 250,000 children out of poverty and mean 850,000 children are in less deep poverty. Council resolves to:
• Call on the UK Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Ask the Council’s Chief Executive to write to Member[s] of Parliament representing [our area], expressing the Council’s support for the scrapping of the two child benefit cap.

Council motion
 

Giving [OUR AREA’S] children the best start in life 

Council notes that: 

• The two-child limit, introduced by the Conservative Government in 2017, restricts support in Universal Credit and tax credits to two children in a family. 
• Analysis by the Child Poverty Action Group shows that 900,000 children living in poverty in England do not currently qualify for free school meals because the Conservative Government introduced an arbitrary £7,400 household income threshold in 2018.
• A new report by the Commons Education Select Committee warns mental health problems and cost-of-living pressures on families are among the complex reasons for increased absenteeism. 
• Scrapping the two-child limit is the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty. It would lift 250,000 children out of poverty and mean 850,000 children are in less deep poverty. 

Council resolves to: 

• Call on the UK Government to scrap the two-child benefit cap. Ask the Council’s Chief Executive to write to Member[s] of Parliament representing [our area], expressing the Council’s support for the scrapping of the two child benefit cap.