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.”

 

- ENDS -

 

 

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

LABOUR ‘DELETE’ CALL TO TACKLE CHILD POVERTY

Welsh Government statistics published this week show that child poverty has risen by 2% to 31% in Wales, the highest rise of all UK nations. However, ahead of a Plaid Cymru debate in the Senedd on April 2nd 2025, where they will call on the Welsh Government to implement a child payment, the Labour Welsh Government have deleted the calls in their amendment to the original motion.

 

Instead, the Welsh Government have focused once again on a ‘commitment…to engage with the Scottish Government to better understand the Scottish Child Payment and how it operates’ despite this having been a matter of discussion for a number of years in Wales.

 

Plaid Cymru Social Justice spokesperson Sioned Williams has criticised the Government’s decision to delete the call, accusing Labour of ‘stalling’ and ‘refusing to take direct action on tackling child poverty’ calling it out as a ‘national stain’.

 

This comes in the same week as the UK Labour Government announcement to cut almost £5 billion in welfare spending, a decision that will push a further 50,000 children into poverty across England and Wales.

 

Plaid Cymru announced a direct child payment to tackle child poverty in their Spring Conference in Llandudno last week. The payment will ‘boost support by putting money in the pockets of those struggling’.

 

A similar scheme in Scotland has had a transformative impact on child poverty, helping Scotland become the only nation in the UK where child poverty levels are expected to decrease.

 

Plaid Cymru’s spokesperson on Social Justice, Sioned Williams MS, said:

 

“Labour are failing our children and young people as the Government’s own figures released this week show.  Not only is child poverty growing in Wales, but it is growing at the fastest rate of all UK nations. This is the result of 25 years of Labour inaction in getting to grips with the national stain that is child poverty.

 

“Their choice to ‘delete’ Plaid Cymru’s calls to implement a child payment is just another example of their refusal to take direct action on tackling child poverty. How long will Labour be content to talk around the issue when the actions needed are known and proven.

 

“Plaid Cymru has real, ambitious, tangible solutions to tackle child poverty. In Government we will take action to support the 31% of children that are currently growing up in poverty, living in households which are struggling to make ends meet, by implementing a child payment.

 

“While Labour are happy to stall, Plaid Cymru will act. While Labour chooses to cut almost £5 billion in support to the most vulnerable, Plaid Cymru look to boost support by putting money in the pockets of those struggling. While Labour are happy continuing with the status quo, Plaid Cymru offer a fresh start.”

 

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TIME TO GO

Responding to the resignation of Vaughan Gething as First Minister and Welsh Labour Leader, Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“The people of Wales have lost faith in the First Minister, belatedly he has done that right thing and resigned.

 

“But the people of Wales are losing confidence in Labour’s ability to govern Wales.

 

“This could be the third Labour First Minister in seven months – a revolving door of chaos.

 

“Labour has put party interests ahead of the interests of the nation for too long.

 

“The people of Wales must be given the opportunity to elect a new government and an election must be called.

 

“Plaid Cymru stands ready to serve with a platform which puts fairness and ambition at its heart.

 

“Voters the length and breadth of Wales deserve a government which is unrelenting in addressing the issues that matter most to them – from record high NHS waiting lists and the scourge of child poverty, to below average educational outcomes and building an economy that works for all.

 

“After 25 years at the helm, Labour is unable to rebuild and refresh from within".

 

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POLITICAL WILL CAN ERADICATE CHILD POVERTY

Immediate action to help 180,000 children living in poverty will only begin by electing a Plaid Cymru government, Senedd candidate for Caerphilly Delyth Jewell has said.

As part of its commitment to eradicate child poverty, Plaid Cymru will provide targeted payments of £10 a week to families living below the poverty line, rising to £35 a week before the end of the next Senedd term.

Delyth Jewell said “child poverty in Wales can be ended if the political will is there” and promised a “relentless focus on breaking the cycle of poorer prospects and school attainment for children from lower income families”

Announcing the policy Delyth Jewell said,

“It is a national scandal that one in three of Welsh children live in poverty. Covid-19 has affected everyone in Wales but those most likely to bear the brunt of its short- and long-term impacts are low-income families and children living in poverty. The outlook now is even more bleak than before.

“It’s simply not good enough for the Labour government to set a target of ending child poverty 2020 only to walk away from it later.

“A Plaid Cymru government would not take its eye off the ball, child poverty in Wales can be eradicated if the political will is there. 

“The best way in the short term to lift a child out of poverty is to give her or his parents money. 

“A Plaid Cymru Government would provide targeted payments to families living in poverty, introducing a Welsh Child Payment of £35 a week to children.

“Voters can be assured that a vote for Plaid Cymru on May 6^th is a vote for a relentless focus on breaking the cycle of poorer prospects and school attainment for children from lower income families.”

- ENDS - 

FREE SCHOOL MEALS

Free schools meals are failing to reach many of those who need them most in Wales. The Child Poverty Action Group found that half of children in poverty in Wales are missing out on free school meals – over 70,000 children. The Labour Welsh Government’s own review into Child Poverty (obtained by Plaid Cymru through an FOI) has actually come to the same conclusion. 

Labour say there’s no cash – but we know that’s not true. We can expand the eligibility by using unallocated funding in next year’s draft budget. The calculations have already been done by the Labour Government in Wales themselves. The cost of expanding free school meals to all children in families in receipt of Universal Credit would be between £33 – 101 million. There is almost £689 million unallocated cash in the draft budget for next year. 

So there is a way, what’s lacking is the political will and the imagination. The benefits of a free school meal are about more than just stopping a child go hungry – a regular, nutritious meal can improve a child’s performance at school, and their health overall, and thereby offset some of the injustices and inequalities caused by poverty.

A compassionate government would work to ensure that no child goes to school hungry or to bed cold, and to that end, a Plaid Cymru Government will make sure that none of these children go hungry. We can but hope that the Labour Government sees sense and rights this wrong before it’s too late.