TIME TO TACKLE CHILD POVERTY

‘Scrap the two-child limit to tackle child poverty – we’ve said it all along’ - Plaid Cymru

 

‘Perhaps Labour are starting to realise that pandering to the right, and adopting Tory policies isn’t what people voted for over a year ago’ - Ann Davies MP

 

The UK Government’s child poverty taskforce has reported that lifting the two-child cap is the most effective way of alleviating child poverty.

 

Plaid Cymru’s DWP spokesperson, Ann Davies MP has emphasised that this is something her party has been calling for since it was brought in by the Tories in 2017.

 

Child poverty is projected to rise in Wales from 32.3% in January 2025 to 34.4% by 2029.

 

The Trussell Trust recently reported that the risk of hunger for families with three or more children is extremely high with the two-child limit being a “significant driver”. They also reported that scrapping the policy would lift 28,900 people in Wales out of severe hardship by 2026/27.

 

Plaid Cymru have long called for the two-child benefit cap to be abolished and have tabled motions and supported amendments in Westminster and in the Senedd.

 

In July 2024, the SNP tabled an amendment to the King’s Speech calling for the two-child cap to be abolished, which was backed by Plaid Cymru at the time. However, every Welsh Labour MP voted against this amendment, ensuring the policy was maintained.

 

 

Plaid Cymru’s DWP spokesperson, Ann Davies MP said:

 

“Families across Wales are being pushed deeper into hardship by a policy that punishes children for circumstances entirely beyond their control. Plaid Cymru have consistently called for the two-child limit to be scrapped, not only because morally, it is the right thing to do, but also because it has been shown time and again to be the most cost-effective and immediate way to lift thousands of children out of poverty. This is something we’ve known for a very long time.

 

“Plaid Cymru have tabled motions in Westminster and in the Senedd calling for the policy to be abolished, which Labour have consistently voted against. It is telling that Starmer’s own taskforce has now admitted what we have been saying all along. Perhaps Labour are starting to realise that pandering to the right, and adopting Tory policies isn’t what people voted for over a year ago.

 

“I said it back in July 2024, and I will say it again: the most powerful ‘change’ this UK Government could implement would be to scrap the two-child limit. I urge the Prime Minister to act decisively to lower the alarming rates of child poverty and ensure that everyone gets the best possible start in life.”

 

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NODIADAU I’R GOLYGYDD / EDITOR’S NOTES:

 

Report of UK Government’s taskforce: Lift two-child benefit cap, ministers to urge PM

 

Child poverty is projected to rise in Wales from 32.3% in January 2025 to 34.4% by 2029: Economic and employment growth alone will not be enough to reduce poverty levels | Joseph Rowntree Foundation

 

Plaid Cymru’s calls:

Motion - NDM8923 - Welsh Parliament

‘The most powerful ‘change’ would be to scrap the two-child limit’ - The Party of Wales

 

SNP amendment to King’s Speech: King's Speech (Motion for an Address): Amendment (d) - Commons' votes in Parliament - UK Parliament

TWEAKING THE WELFARE BILL WON’T WORK

Plaid Cymru publish response to UK Government welfare consultation

Plaid Cymru has published its response to the UK Government’s Pathways to Work consultation, condemning Labour’s proposed welfare reforms as “a direct attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our society” and “an insult to the post-industrial Welsh communities Labour claims to represent.”

The party’s Work and Pensions spokesperson Ann Davies MP said the proposed Universal Credit and Personal Independence Payment Bill would cause “grave hardship” to disabled people, particularly young people with mental health conditions, and risks replicating the worst injustices of previous Conservative regimes.

Plaid Cymru has criticised the concessions announced on 26 June – including exemptions for existing PIP claimants and temporary protections for some UC recipients – as "inadequate sticking plasters on a fundamentally flawed agenda." The party warned that creating a two-tier system between existing and future claimants does not eliminate injustice, but delays and redistributes it.

Wales, where around 30% of the population is disabled and the poverty rate among disabled adults is among the highest in the UK, stands to suffer the most. Yet the Labour UK Government has refused to publish a Wales-specific impact assessment.

Ms Davies said that “if the Welsh Government have a backbone, they will oppose this terrible bill in its entirety.”

Ann Davies MP said:

“The current system already fails too many people. But instead of meaningful reform that helps the sick and disabled play the most active role possible in society, the Labour Government’s plan is to make it even harder for disabled people to access vital support. This is a direct attack on some of the most vulnerable people in our society, and an insult to the post-industrial Welsh communities Labour claims to represent.

“The so-called concessions announced this week are no more than sticking plasters on a fundamentally flawed bill. There is no fairness in protecting existing claimants while penalising those who become disabled in the future. People do not choose when to get sick or disabled, and so arbitrary cutoff dates make no sense.

“These proposals would cause grave hardship to disabled people and young people with mental health conditions, and they risk replicating the worst injustices of past Conservative welfare systems.

“The economic hit to Wales will be disproportionate, and the Labour UK Government’s refusal to publish a Wales-specific impact assessment is a slap in the face to the people of Wales. If the Welsh Government have a backbone, they will oppose this terrible bill in its entirety.

“The UK Government may have offered short-term concessions, but tweaks around the edges won’t fix a broken system. What we need is investment in inclusive employment, individualised support, and long-term savings through genuinely fair welfare – not cuts that push people further into hardship.

"Our response to the consultation outlines why Plaid Cymru MPs will be voting against this Bill at second reading next week."

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Pathways to Work: Reforming Benefits and Support to Get Britain Working - Plaid Cymru Consultation Response

LABOUR'S HOLLOW ENERGY PLAN

Plaid Cymru note that Labour’s energy plans won't maximise benefits for Welsh communities without the devolution of the Crown Estate to Wales.

 

Plaid Cymru MP for Caerfyrddin, Ann Davies MP said that the Prime Minister’s and First Minister’s visit to West Wales to highlight their plans for GB Energy and Trdyan Gwyrdd Cymru failed to commit to keeping profits generated from new energy projects within Wales.

 

The Crown Estate owns 65% of Wales’ foreshore and riverbeds, and more than 50,000 acres of land, profits from which go directly to the UK Treasury and Monarch.

 

Without direct control over these natural resources through devolution of the Crown Estate, the profits generated from new clean projects will continue to leave Wales, rather than be shared between Welsh communities as is the case in Scotland.

 

The Crown Estate is recoding record net profits, having recently announced £1.1 billion net revenue profit which was £658.1 million higher than the previous year. The devolved Scottish Crown Estate generated £103.6 million for the Scottish Government in 2023.

 

Ann Davies MP said:

 

“It is incredibly disappointing to see Eluned Morgan failing to stand up for Welsh interests by not pressing Keir Starmer to devolve the Crown Estate. Devolution would give us the powers we need to set the terms of renewable energy developments, and ensure that the profits from our natural resources stay here in Wales.

 

“The Labour Welsh Government has previously said that the Crown Estate in Wales should be devolved, in line with the position in Scotland.  Today was an opportunity for the new First Minister to finally raise this pressing need with Keir Starmer.

 

“Her failure to do so will mean that profits from investments made by GB Energy and Trydan Gwyrdd Cymru will continue to leave Wales for the Treasury and the Monarch. This is money which should be kept and reinvested here in Wales to address the high levels of poverty and inequality facing our communities, and bring down our energy bills.  It appears that Labour’s energy plans will ring hollow for ordinary people in Wales.”

 

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A STUNNING GENERAL ELECTION RESULT

Plaid Cymru hail “stunning” general election result

Plaid Cymru have hailed a “stunning” general election result after retaining its two incumbent MPs and gaining two others.

Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,

 

“This is a stunning result for Plaid Cymru and testament to the real warmth and enthusiasm we have been feeling on the doorstep for the last six weeks.

 

Despite the tough context of an unprecedented Labour wave, this is the party’s best ever result in a General Election - representing the greatest proportion of seats won.

 

People were consistently telling us that they were desperate to see the back of the Tories but that Labour weren’t offering real change either.

 

Plaid Cymru stood on a positive and ambitious platform of fairness for Wales and I’m delighted that people have put their faith in four outstanding candidates to represent them in Westminster.

 

Liz, Ben, Llinos and Ann will work tirelessly to make sure that Wales’s voice is never ignored by the incoming Labour government.

 

Despite throwing everything at Caerfyrddin and Ynys Môn, Labour’s UK wide wave failed in the face of strong local campaigns and two excellent new additions to Plaid’s ranks in Westminster.

 

This result shows that Plaid Cymru is the clear alternative to Labour in Wales and our focus now shifts to putting forward a vision which more people than every can get behind at the Senedd Election in 2026.”

 

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