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Streeting explains why Labour disagrees with Braverman on ending child benefit cap (www.independent.co.uk)

submitted 7 months ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

13 comments fedilink hide all child comments

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Wes Streeting has defended his party’s policy not to scrap the cap on child benefit for just two children in each household.
[…]
Labour had been in favour of scrapping the child benefit cap but reversed on the proposal late last summer because shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said it was unaffordable, provoking huge anger and debate in the party.
[…]
[Ms Braverman wrote in The Daily Telegraph]: "The truth is that Conservatives should do more to support families and children on lower incomes... A crucial reform that Frank [Field] advocated was to scrap the two-child benefits limit, restricting child tax credits and universal credit to the first two children in a family. If they have a third or fourth child, a low-income family will lose about £3,200 per year.

"Over 400,000 families are affected and all the evidence suggests that it is not having the effect of increasing employment or alleviating poverty. Instead, it’s aggravating child poverty."

Mr Streeting told The Independent that poverty in the UK is forcing women to choose to have abortions because they cannot aford to keep the child.

But when The Independent asked him about Labour’s U-turn on scrapping the two child benefit cap, he insisisted that dealing with child poverty was “more than just about handouts”.
[…]
[He said]: "I also know that that the answer to child poverty, ultimately, is not simply about handouts, it is about a social security safety net, that also acts as a springboard that helps people into work and with good work that makes the cost of living affordable for everyone.

"That means that if you aren't doing the right thing, and earning a living and playing by the rules, that you don't just have enough to make ends meet, but you have enough to do the things that make life worth living. And we’re some way from that from that now."

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

I'll also add. Its far far from an old fashioned idea. The very possibility for people to avoid children is an extreamly modern one. Pre the 1960s it was impossible. And morally shunned for married couples to avoid children. And the idea that birth control was widely effective and available. Did not really hit until the 1980s.

Heck even as recent as the 2000 doctors failed to warn patients on birth control of medicines that can cause it to fail.

Not to mention the many many health reasons (for women) why some couples still need to choose less effective methods.

The only truly effective method with limited health. Involves males choosing a permanent solution. (Yes it is permanent. You have a max of 10 years for reversal. And even then odds are far from 100%. )

Hell of a choice to ask a young couple to make. If they are to poor to have children now.