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

WALES AND THE NEW UNION

It is Interesting to note that Labour in Westminster initially said that they were going big on devolution in England 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 but are remained fairly tight lipped if not literally silent on any further devolution for Wales e.g. The Crown Estates, Police and Criminal Justice, railways. etc 

Interestingly enough where this may get even more interesting is they one of the bills mooted in the Kings Speech - aims to bring the railways into state ownership. Now railways in Scotland are already effectively state owned - the state in question being Scotland.  And in Wales, as you would expect, only part of railways in Wales are devolved, and the rest of them run by three or four franchises.

I wonder if Labour in Westminster will simply ask for the devolved bit back? And if they do, I would suspect, based on Labour Wales’s timid behaviour towards the various former Conservative Westminster governments, simply expect the Labour in Wales branch office to quite happily hand the fairly limited control of railways in Wales back to Westminster. 

While policing is already devolved in some parts of England, and may well be devoted to new devoted regions in England there appears to be no chance of it being devolved in Wales by the current Labour in Westminster government - and it won’t even be asked for. While the creation of a council of the regions and nations is a welcome step up for the English regions, it’s clearly a step down for Cymru / Scotland and NI.  

Clearly Labour in Wales under its new leader has absolutely no intention of asking for even a portion of the revenue ( current and potential ) to be devolved to the Welsh Government in Cardiff. This may simply confirm that Labour in Wales has completed the transition from ideological to administrative and exits simply to administer rather than to innovate or even campaign beyond periodic rhetoric at election time. 

So much for making devolution work and kick starting our economy? Perhaps Labour in Wales’s lack of vision will lead to a new slogan different from the positively Orwellian “Stability is change” we may yet end up with “Shush! This is as good as it gets!”. It certainly does not have to be this way… Labour in Wales has run its course, bereft of any ideas or vision. Roll on 2026…

FIGHTING FUEL POVERTY

Plaid Cymru urged  the UK Government to include the introduction of an Energy Social Tariff in the King’s Speech on 7th November, as millions face fuel poverty this winter.  

The party’s Treasury spokesperson, Ben Lake MP, said that the current system of only giving those on means-tested benefits “misses thousands of people living in fuel poverty.”  

The proposed social tariff aims to address the pressing issue of rising energy prices and the growing number of individuals struggling to pay their energy bills.  

Energy prices are around £700 higher than in October 2021, when the energy crisis began, and are expected to remain at elevated levels in the long term. Meanwhile, record numbers of people are seeking energy debt support in Wales.   

Plaid Cymru says that a social tariff could offer price protection by lowering unit rates, standing charges, or providing bill rebates, calculated by using a formula that accounts for their energy consumption and household income. Other countries such as Belgium already have energy social tariffs which offer lower prices for households struggling with energy bills.

Mr Lake also suggests that a social tariff could help to reduce inflation by bringing down the cost of energy bills, and the money saved by households would likely find its way into local economies.  

Ben Lake MP said:  

“As winter starts to bite, the UK Government needs to be innovative in finding ways of protecting the most vulnerable from the harsh burden of unaffordable energy costs. 

The King’s Speech must include a fairer system for targeted energy bill support in the form of a social tariff.  

“In a time when rising energy costs are worsened by the impact of high inflation, many households find their disposable income having dwindled. Even if energy prices see a temporary dip, many households still grapple with significant energy debts.  

“The current system of energy bills support, doesn't match the scale of the problem. 

Government support which only focuses on those receiving means tested benefits does not cover all of the 6.3 million UK households who are in fuel poverty, which has increased from 4.5 million over the past two years. An energy social tariff, on the other hand, would offer price protection to all households facing energy bill difficulties. By lowering unit rates, standing charges, or providing bill rebates, a social tariff could offer long-term security and much-needed relief to those facing bills which are over 50% higher than pre-crisis levels.  

“The Government has long promised a consultation on a social tariff. Plaid Cymru urges the Prime Minister to include proposals for a social tariff in the King's Speech, so that people can have some confidence that they can stay warm this winter."