A Scottish Labour MSP has slammed Keir Starmer after he said that Labour would not be scrapping the two-child benefit cap.
Former Scottish Labour leadership hopeful Monica Lennon said the policy was "abhorrent" and called for party colleagues to speak out.
She also acknowledged that party members are "of deselection, being exiled to backbenches, or not winning selections" if they criticise the leadership.
UK Labour leader Starmer said it was not party policy to scrap the cap during a question and answer session in Kent on Thursday morning.
It came after shadow DWP Secretary Jonathan Ashworth called the cap "heinous" and suggested the party would scrap it.
The policy means households with more than two children where universal credit or child tax credit is claimed no longer receive additional funds.
Starmer was asked on Thursday morning: "Recently the shadow Work and Pensions Secretary [Jonathan Ashworth] called the two child benefit cap 'heinous' and suggested Labour will scrap it.
"Can you confirm if that is Labour's policy?"
Starmer replied: "That isn't our policy and if it changes I'll let you know."
The policy, which was legislated for by David Cameron’s government, applies to additional children born after April 6, 2017, however exemptions apply for those who had children in a multiple birth or children conceived due to rape or coercion.
However, the exemptions have caused controversy as women must disclose that they were raped in order to be eligible - known as the rape clause.
The Scottish Government currently mitigates the benefit cap and devolved social security benefits are not subject to the two-child limit and rape clause.
Starmer's comments provoked outrage among many in his own party. Central Scotland MSP Lennon said it was up to parliamentarians to speak out.
She said: "I know colleagues are scared of deselection, being exiled to backbenches, or not winning selections but if we don’t speak out then who will? The two-child benefit cap (aka the rape clause) is abhorrent and must be scrapped.
"Labour policies must be progressive and humane."
Lennon lost in the 2021 Scottish Labour leadership contest to Anas Sarwar. She has been on the backbenches since November 2021.
SNP Westminster Leader Stephen Flynn accused Labour of "only offering to copy disgraceful Tory policies"
He said: "With each passing day, pro-Brexit Labour become more and more indistinguishable from the Tories.
"Sir Keir Starmer's failure to commit to abolishing the cruel and callous two-child benefit cap will have shocked voters right across these isles, leaving many wondering what the Labour Party actually stand for.
"It is incumbent on both Sir Keir and Anas Sarwar to confirm that a future Labour UK government would scrap this callous and cruel policy on day one.
"Failure to do so will confirm that Labour aren't offering real change - they are only offering to copy disgraceful Tory policies."
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