Sir Keir Starmer under fire as Justin Welby hits out at two-child benefits cap
Sir Keir Starmer has come under fire for refusing to scrap the two-child benefits cap after the measure was criticised by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The Most Rev Justin Welby stated that the cap was “neither moral nor necessary” and “falls short of our values as a society”.
He told The Observer: “Children should grow up in families and households where they can flourish and be supported to find their place in the world. Yet the two-child limit prevents many from accessing the resources they need. This cruel policy is neither moral nor necessary.”
Last 12 months, Sir Keir, the Labour chief, confirmed that he would hold the brink, which restricts benefits to the primary two youngsters in most households.
Under guidelines put in place when George Osborne was chancellor, households can not declare tax credit score or Universal Credit for a 3rd baby.
‘Conservatives’ disastrous dealing with of economic system’
Wes Streeting, the shadow well being secretary, appeared to reward the Archbishop’s remarks on the coverage, telling Sky News: “You’re by no means going to search out, if there’s a Labour authorities, politicians being despatched out to assault the Archbishop of Canterbury for virtue-signalling, as Conservative MPs have executed.
“It is actually his job – he’s the one particular person within the nation whose job it’s to sign advantage. If the mission of the Church is to not alleviate poverty and struggling, I don’t know what’s.
“It is without doubt one of the penalties of the Conservatives’ disastrous dealing with of the economic system that the general public funds are in a large number, and there are laborious decisions to make.
“Unless and till I can sit in your programme and say we’ll do X by funding it by way of Y, that’s not a dedication I’m in a position to make at this time.”
Asked about his private view on whether or not the restrict needs to be ditched, Mr Streeting informed Sky’s Trevor Phillips: “I voted against the two-child limit, so by definition I wish it wasn’t there.”
‘Never believed the cap is right’
Rosie Duffield, the Labour MP for Canterbury, informed The Telegraph that Sir Keir ought to “think again” on preserving the cap, saying that “all his MPs want him to scrap the two-child limit”.
She stated: “We are in touch with constituents constantly, so we see first-hand how hard life is for those on benefits. It is also great to have the intervention of a faith leader whose churches do so much to help our communities and those struggling to make ends meet.”
Charlotte Nichols, the Labour MP for Warrington North, stated she “never believed the cap is right” and would “fully support it being abolished at the earliest possible opportunity”.
But she added: “The Archbishop would probably be better directing his comments towards the Government we actually have at the minute, though – particularly if we have another fiscal event before the general election.”
Suella Braverman, the previous residence secretary, additionally known as for the cap to go. Writing for The Telegraph, she stated: “Do we support families or do we penalise them? That’s the real question of a compassionate welfare system.”
