As the Member of Parliament for Bolton South and Walkden, I have written to the Chancellor calling for the two-child limit on child benefits to be scrapped in the upcoming Budget. This policy is pushing over 100 children into poverty every single day, according to research by the Child Poverty Action Group.
Right now, 4.5 million children are living in poverty, and projections show this will rise to 4.7 million by the end of this Parliament unless urgent action is taken. What’s most shocking is that the majority of these children live in working households. Families who are doing everything asked of them are still struggling to make ends meet.
I’ve seen first-hand the impact this has on our schools. One headteacher told me that more than three-quarters of pupils in their school experience poverty. Staff are stepping in to feed and clothe children because families are being forced to choose between heating and eating. This is unacceptable in one of the richest countries in the world.
Everyone in government knows how important it is to give children the best start in life. Removing the two-child limit would make a real, tangible difference to hundreds of thousands of working families. It’s a practical step that would improve living standards and provide hope for the future.
I understand the Chancellor faces tough decisions, but this is about priorities. Do we continue down the path of austerity, or do we choose to provide opportunity and security for our children? For me, the answer is clear.