Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's stance on the two-child limit for claiming certain benefits will be challenged at a meeting of the party's policy body this weekend. Sir Keir has faced criticism
from within his party regarding this issue.
The National Policy Forum of Labour, which consists of trade union representatives, party members, and shadow cabinet representatives, will meet in Nottingham behind closed doors to discuss and finalize six policy documents that will be sent to the party's annual conference in October. However, it should be noted that policies agreed upon at this stage are not automatically included in the party's manifesto.
While the party leadership has accepted some amendments to the draft documents, such as reaffirming the commitment to rail nationalization and improving early years education provision, without specifying spending commitments, other proposed changes, including those related to welfare, will be up for debate.
Unison, the largest trade union in the country, and the shop workers' union Usdaw support an amendment to end the punitive aspects of the benefit system, including the two-child limit and the benefits cap.
The two-child limit, implemented in 2017, restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the first two children in a family, with only a few exceptions. Removing the limit is estimated to cost £1.3 billion per year but could lift 250,000 children out of poverty overnight, according to the Child Poverty Action Group.
Sir Keir has stated that the policy will not change under a Labour government. Though he did not provide a reason during a recent interview, members of his shadow cabinet have suggested that it is because abolishing the two-child limit would require unfunded spending commitments.
Critics of Sir Keir's approach can be divided into two camps. The first camp comprises those who want the policy to change, including Unison, some former shadow ministers, and Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour. The second camp, consisting of serving shadow ministers who are privately expressing their discontent, agrees with refraining from making uncosted commitments.
Some within the party believe that Sir Keir could have criticized the policy while explaining that the necessary funds are not available due to the Conservatives' economic mismanagement. They argue that this approach would have left room for addressing the issue if the economy improves, thereby avoiding the current controversy.
While the two-child limit may not be popular with party members, Sir Keir is likely aware that it is less unpopular with potential voters. His allies in the shadow cabinet deny that he intended to appease former Labour strongholds in the Midlands and northern England, often referred to as the "red wall."
At the policy forum, there will also be a push by some unions and left-wing delegates for the party to commit to providing free school meals to all primary school children in England. Momentum, a left-wing group, will advocate for a more radical agenda, including public ownership, rent controls, and increased international aid.
While Momentum and the unions may not achieve major victories, they hope to send a clear message to the leadership on issues related to benefits and school meals. It is worth noting that not all party members would support all of Momentum's preferred policies. However, there is a broader concern within Labour about whether the party's program can inspire potential voters rather than just reassure them. Photo by Rwendland, Wikimedia commons.