GORDON Brown has claimed that a Labour government would “turn the tide” on child poverty despite his party’s refusal to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
Speaking to The Daily Record, Brown said child poverty in the UK was at unacceptable levels following nearly 15 years of Conservative-led governments.
“I never thought I would see the kind of poverty we are seeing again,” he said.
“You have got mothers who have to queue up at a food bank at the end of a week after working full-time because there is not enough money to make ends meet.
“You’ve got parents having to choose between heating, eating and keeping their ¬children clean. And you have got children going to school hungry. That should not be happening in Britain in 2024.”
However, the former Labour leader then claimed that if his party forms the next government they would be able to “turn the tide” on child poverty.
He added: “This next Labour government, if it’s elected next Thursday, has a chance to be a landmark in turning the tide against child poverty, which is just so big now.
“It is the biggest cause of social division.”
Brown’s comments come despite the fact that Keir Starmer refuses to commit to scrapping the two-child benefit cap.
The Institute for Fiscal Studies has also warned that 670,000 more children will be impacted the benefit cap – which limits child benefits for the first two children in a household – by the end of the next parliament if it is not significantly reformed by the next government.
First Minister John Swinney took aim at Brown’s comments.
He said on X/Twitter: “Much as I respect Gordon Brown, this is nonsense.
“Labour voted against @theSNP Budget that included the Scottish Child Payment which keeps 100,000 children OUT of poverty.
“Labour support the 2 child limit that keeps children IN poverty”.
Much as I respect Gordon Brown, this is nonsense. Labour voted against @theSNP Budget that included the Scottish Child Payment which keeps 100,000 children OUT of poverty. Labour support the 2 child limit that keeps children IN poverty.#VoteSNP to END child poverty. https://t.co/xAsTXokv5N
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) June 29, 2024
SNP MSP Elena Whitham echoed her leader’s comments.
She said: “If they can't commit to supporting the poorest children suffering under the abhorrent 2 child limit right now...are we just supposed to blindly believe this snake oil?”
When asked why Labour would not commit to ending the two-child benefit cap, Keir Starmer has repeatedly insisted that his party will “only make promises I know we can afford”.
