‘Scrap the Two Child Limit on Benefits’ – say local Lib Dems

Reading Liberal Democrats are calling for the two-child limit on benefit payments, introduced by the Conservative Government in 2017 and supported by the current Labour Government, to be scrapped.

The two-child limit affects over 1.5 million (or one in ten) children across the UK. In Reading alone, almost 4,000 local children are affected and many live in poverty as a result.

With Labour and the Conservatives supporting the cap, the Lib Dems are the only major UK-wide party committed to scrapping it. They set out how to pay to scrap the limit in their recent General Election manifesto by reversing the Conservative cuts to big bank taxes, restoring Bank Surcharge and Bank Levy revenues to 2016 levels in real terms.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Reading Borough Council, Councillor James Moore said:

“The two-child limit on benefits is a heartless and harmful policy that has had no impact other than to help plunge over 1,000 local families into poverty.”

“The Liberal Democrats have consistently opposed this cap both locally and nationally. We have moved a motion to Reading Borough Council calling on the whole council to signal its opposition to the Labour Government.”

“It’s shameful that Sir Keir Starmer and his Labour Government are committed to keeping this cruel Conservative policy. There really is very little difference between Labour and the Conservatives, but the Lib Dems are on local people’s side.”

“Cancelling the two-child limit on benefit payments will immediately lift 250,000 children out of poverty in the UK, and significantly reduce poverty for a further 850,000 children. It would help thousands of local families as the cost of living continues to rise. It’s simply the right thing to do.”