Sadiq Khan Calls for End to Two-Child Benefit Cap
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has thrown his weight behind scrapping the controversial two-child benefit cap. The Tory government introduced this rule in 2017, stopping parents from claiming Universal Credit or child tax credits for more than two kids. But Khan stopped short of backing Labour rebels who recently defied their party over the issue.
Khan Urges Action Through Child Poverty Taskforce
After a heated debate and vote on an SNP amendment to officially regret the absence of the cap’s abolition from the King’s Speech, Khan urged caution. Instead of outright opposition, he wants concerns channelled into the government’s new Child Poverty Taskforce. The amendment was smashed by 363 votes to 103, showing Labour’s resistance to costly policy U-turns.
Khan told reporters at the launch of London’s first “multibank” in Greenford—an initiative supported by the Felix Project charity—that the cap must go. “There’s a budget coming later this year. It’s crucial Rachel Reeves asks the Office for Budget Responsibility to properly review the figures this autumn,” he said.
Multibank Initiative Tackling Rising Poverty in London
The new multibank will distribute over 400,000 surplus essential goods to around 40,000 Londoners, a vital step in fighting soaring poverty. Khan praised the effort and recalled how former Labour PM Gordon Brown made significant strides in reducing child poverty—a stark contrast to the worsening situation under the Conservatives.
Labour’s Balancing Act on Benefit Cap
Khan’s comments reflect Labour’s delicate position on the benefit cap as internal party tensions simmer. The Child Poverty Taskforce, led by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson and Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall, is expected to play a key role in tackling child poverty head-on.
As the Labour government shapes new priorities, the two-child cap remains a flashpoint, with fierce debate over its impact on families across the UK.
