KEIR Starmer has denied claims from sources within his own Government that Labour have ruled out abolishing the two-child benefit cap.
Last week, the Guardian quoted UK Government insiders who said ministers had decided that the two-child cap – which Labour opposed before taking power but have since stood behind – would remain in place.
“If they still think we’re going to scrap the cap then they’re listening to the wrong people. We’re simply not going to find a way to do that,” one source said.
Instead of scrapping the cap – which prevents families from claiming benefits for third or subsequent children in most cases – Labour have convened a “child poverty taskforce” which they claim will examine the best routes to tackle the issue.
Labour MP Nadia Whittome challenged Starmer on the two-child cap at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday.
She pointed to data showing that in March 2024, up to 64% of children in parts of her Nottingham East constituency had been in poverty, “the highest proportion in the whole of the Midlands and a damning indictment of the previous Conservative government”.
Whittome went on: “One of the proudest achievements of the last Labour government was the action it took on child poverty.
“Can the Prime Minister confirm that this Labour government will do everything in its power to eliminate child poverty, and that its task force has not ruled out abolishing the two-child benefit limit, the single most cost-effective way to pull children out of poverty?”
“I'm proud of Labour's record in reducing child poverty, which is what we do in government and the task force is exploring every lever to reduce child poverty,” he said.
The news comes after a group of leading charities warned that without scrapping the cap Labour are set to oversee the highest child poverty levels on record.
“Scrapping the two-child limit is by far the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty,” they said. “It would lift 350,000 children out of poverty overnight and result in 700,000 children living in less deep poverty.”
The SNP have said they will work to scrap the cap for families in Scotland from 2026, but will need UK Government data in order to do so.
Elsewhere at PMQs, Whittome accused Tory leader Kemi Badenoch of “weaponising victims of child sexual abuse for political points”.
Gesturing to Badenoch, the Labour MP added: “It’s a disgrace. You’re a disgrace.”
NEW: Labour MP Nadia Whittome has called Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch 'a disgrace' over the her 'weaponization of victims of child sexual abuse' 🗣️ 'It's a disgrace. You are a disgrace' pic.twitter.com/7YoW977Z4t
— The National (@ScotNational) April 30, 2025
The Tory leader had pushed Starmer to announce inquiries into rape gangs, in addition to the one already announced in Oldham.
Starmer, a former director of public prosecutions, accused Badenoch of “staying silent” on the issue while in government, telling the Commons: “I was the prosecutor who brought the first case and when that file was brought to my attention I noticed that one of the defendants had not been prosecuted previously.
“Far from covering up, I asked for that file so I could have a look at it. On the back of that I then changed the entire approach to prosecutions, which was then lauded by the government that we were doing the right thing, and brought those prosecutions.
“So my record was going after where I thought something had gone wrong and putting it right. She stayed silent throughout their years in government.”
LibDem leader Ed Davey raised the prospect of a UK-US trade deal, which reports say has been pushed down Donald Trump’s priority list, and questioned whether the American president could be trusted.
Davey said: “On behalf of my party, can I send my congratulations to Mark Carney and the Liberal Party of Canada on their historic victory. We wish them well as Canada continues to stand up strongly to president Trump’s tariffs and threats.
“Canada has learned what happens when you do a trade deal with President Trump. He can’t be trusted to stick with it.”
The party leader later asked: “Will the Government give members of this House a vote on the floor of this House on any deal he agrees with President Trump? Yes or no?”
Starmer replied: “We are in negotiations with the US in relation to a deal. We will act obviously in the national interest and make sure that if there is a deal, it’s the right deal for our country.
“If it is secured, it will go through the known procedures for this House.”
