A Renfrewshire MP has challenged both Sir Keir Starmer and Anas Sarwar to commit to scrapping the two-child benefit cap.
Labour has pledged to reform the universal credit system, however the party has not formally committed to abolishing the two-child limit on benefits.
Gavin Newlands today called on Labour’s UK leader Sir Keir Starmer and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to commit to abolishing the two-child benefit cap, described as “cruel and callous” by Mr Newlands.
Scottish Labour MSP Monica Lennon has previously described the policy as “abhorrent”.
The two-child benefit cap reduces the amount of money available to children though benefits and means parents get no support for a third child or any further children born after April 2017.
To abolish the two-child limit is thought to cost around £1.3bn per year and covers an estimated 1.5 million children.
The cap was introduced by former Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron and then chancellor George Osborne in 2015 and begun under Theresa May’s premiership in 2017.
Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Gavin Newlands 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.
“It’s also time for those in Renfrewshire Labour who are quick to demand action from a Scottish Government doing its best to mitigate Westminster austerity to demand the same from their own leader.
“Failing to do so would be an act of complete hypocrisy.
“We’ve also seen it confirmed that Labour aren’t offering real change – they are only offering to copy disgraceful Tory policies.”
“At the next election, voters can be in no doubt that only the SNP are offering voters a real alternative through independence – which would rid Scotland of inhumane policies like the two-child benefit cap once and for all.”
Headline photo: Gavin Newlands MP