Press Release: Two-child limit - 21/7/23

ALAN BROWN MP DEMANDS U-TURN FROM STARMER

Mr Brown, has written a letter to Sir Keir Starmer, demanding an immediate U-turn on the cruel two-child benefit cap.

It follows new analysis, conducted by the SNP, showing 1,190 households in East Ayrshire are affected.

By percentage of households hit across Scotland, East Ayrshire comes off worse, with three in five households (59%) in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits not receiving financial support for at least one child in April 2023.

The analysis also revealed that 20,000 children across Scotland have been pushed into poverty this year as a result of the two-child cap. It comes amid a growing backlash against the Labour party's admission that it would keep the two-child cap and may keep other damaging Tory cuts.

The MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun has said Sir Keir Starmer “will have abandoned thousands of families in Scotland to poverty” if he fails to scrap the two-child cap – and that “voting SNP is the only way to secure independence and get rid of damaging Westminster governments for good”.

In the letter, Mr Brown said:

"As the MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun, I write to express my concern at your party's decision to U-turn on the abolition of the two-child benefit cap.

"That decision has rightly been condemned by charities and politicians alike, including many of your own colleagues both at Westminster and at Holyrood.

"The evidence is clear: the two-child benefit cap drags children into poverty, but also predominately impacts working families too – families who are already struggling to get by in the UK’s low-wage Brexit-based economy.

“So much so, East Ayrshire Council has the highest percentage of universal credit claimants affected by this policy in Scotland. 59% of households who are in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits are impacted by this “cruel and inhumane” policy – a phrase used by your own Deputy Leader. I am angry that a policy that has such a devasting impact on innocent children in my constituency is now apparently supported by the Labour Party.

"This is a shameful legacy that the Tories have created and one that your party are set to continue.

"A failure to U-turn will mean the Labour party have abandoned thousands of families in Scotland to poverty - leaving voters in no doubt that voting SNP is the only way to secure independence and get rid of damaging Westminster governments for good.

"I urge you to reconsider your party's position on this callous policy. I note too that many Labour MPs are arguing that they want the policy overturned but cannot afford to do so just yet. This is at odds with your unequivocal stance when you stated clearly “We are not changing that policy”.

“As for the argument about not having unfunded pledges, I draw your attention to your support for nuclear weapons of mass destruction (£200bn+); Labour’s continued support and push for new large-scale nuclear at Sizewell C (estimated cost £35-£40bn) and Labour’s support for Small Scale Nuclear Reactors (Tory unfunded pledge of £20bn). I believe I have helped you find significant savings that could cover the £1.3bn estimate to scrap the two-child tax policy.

“I look forward to hearing from you.”