Scrap two-child benefit cap to end child poverty, Labour told: ‘Good intentions are not enough’

Spread the love

https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/two-child-benefit-cap-poverty-taskforce/

The new Labour government has promised an ‘ambitious plan’ to end child poverty, but it is yet to commit to ending the two-child limit

The new Labour government has launched a taskforce to work towards ending child poverty, but charities have warned that “good intentions are not enough” as they ramp up calls for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped.

Keir Starmer’s party has promised an “ambitious” plan for ending child poverty, but it has so far refused to commit to removing the two-child limit, which is also referred to as the two-child benefit cap and has been described as “one of the cruellest welfare policies of the past decade”.

It means that families who have a third child or subsequent children born after April 2017 are denied up to £3,500 a year compared with those whose children were born sooner.

Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, said: “The taskforce is a welcome first step towards fulfilling the government’s pledge to bring in an ambitious child poverty strategy.  

“But with a record number of kids in poverty now, scrapping the two-child limit on benefits has to happen in the government’s first budget.  The two-child limit is driving up child poverty more than any other policy, children need it to be removed as a priority.”

https://www.bigissue.com/news/social-justice/two-child-benefit-cap-poverty-taskforce/

Continue ReadingScrap two-child benefit cap to end child poverty, Labour told: ‘Good intentions are not enough’

Sadiq Khan praised for rolling out free school meals for all primary pupils in London for another year

Spread the love

https://leftfootforward.org/2024/01/sadiq-khan-praised-for-rolling-out-free-school-meals-for-all-primary-pupils-in-london-for-another-year/

The move will save families up to £1,000 per child over the two-year period, according to analysis by City Hall.

The Mayor of London is being praised for rolling out free school meals for another year for primary school pupils across the city, as families grapple with the cost of living crisis with millions more pushed into poverty under Tory austerity and soaring bills.

Sadiq Khan put forward plans worth £140 million to extend universal provision of hot meals for the 2024/25 school year, after piloting the approach in state-funded primaries across the Capital from September.

The move will save families up to £1,000 per child over the two-year period, according to analysis by City Hall.

The Mayor of London said that he was ‘thrilled to extend this lifeline for another year’.

Research from the Child Poverty Action Group, shows that nationally, around 800,000 children who are living in poverty are currently missing out on free school meals, due to restrictions on eligibility.

Khan’s scheme provides lunches for every other London pupil not already covered under government funding.

https://leftfootforward.org/2024/01/sadiq-khan-praised-for-rolling-out-free-school-meals-for-all-primary-pupils-in-london-for-another-year/

Continue ReadingSadiq Khan praised for rolling out free school meals for all primary pupils in London for another year