Keir Starmer sets out 'moral mission' to tackle child poverty

Charities have called for further action to tackle child poverty after the UK Government said it would “lift thousands of children” out of need in Scotland.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer was in Glasgow earlier tonight to hail his administration’s Child Poverty Strategy.

It is aimed at achieving the largest reduction in the problem since records began, cutting numbers by 550,000 by 2030.

And it comes after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the reversal of the two-child cap in her latest Budget as part of a package of measures that ministers say will help 95,000 Scottish youngsters.

The end of the two-child cap follows years of pressure by campaigners and comes after the Scottish Government said it would use part of its budget to mitigate the benefits restriction, which limited Universal Credit or tax credits to the first two children in any household, aside from in cases of multiple births or where the child’s mother disclosed that they were conceived as a result of rape.

The stricture was brought in by then Conservative chancellor George Osborne and has affected children born into larger families since April 2017.

Starmer said his government’s move was part of a “moral mission”, stating: “Every child deserves the best possible start in life, with their future no longer determined by the circumstances of their birth. Yet too many children are growing up in poverty, held back from getting on in life, and too many families are struggling without the basics: a secure home, warm meals, and the support they need to make ends meet.”

But anti-poverty charities say more must be done to alleviate the inequality still blighting lives across communities.

Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill will hold a roundtable with third-sector organisations in Edinburgh tomorrow.

But, responding to the UK Government’s strategy, Chris Birt, Joseph Rowntree Foundation associate director for Scotland, said: “The UK Government has a crucial role to play in reducing child poverty in Scotland, and by abolishing the two-child limit, it has put its money where its mouth is.

“Both this change and the Scottish Child Payment introduced at Holyrood are powerful tools in driving down poverty in Scotland.

“But the two-child limit was being abolished in Scotland whether or not the UK Government acted. With a quarter of a million children in Scotland living in poverty, further action is needed, and there is no time to lose.

“We need to see radical commitments from all parties contesting next year’s Holyrood election on how we can meet our child poverty reduction targets. 

“This must start with the Scottish Government’s budget in January, but the manifestos for May’s election will be the key litmus test of political parties’ commitment to building a better future for all Scotland's children.”

John Dickie, director of Child Poverty Action Group (CPag) in Scotland, commented: “The UK Government’s decision to do the right thing and scrap the two-child limit is hugely welcome. It will improve the lives of children in Scotland and across the whole of the UK.

“Holyrood action is already working to reduce child poverty here in Scotland, but it remains unacceptably high, and across the UK child poverty is rising to record levels.

“Westminster policies matter, so we welcome the UK Government's recognition that the publication of its strategy is only the first step. Every level of government must now work together to build on this momentum to achieve more tangible change for children.”

The UK Government’s strategy includes an increase to the National Minimum Wage, which is expected to help 220,000 of Scotland’s lowest earners, Child Maintenance Service reform and changes to the sale of infant formula.

The Labour administration says it is “the most ambitious action to tackle child poverty in a generation”.

Scottish secretary Douglas Alexander commented: “This is a government that is delivering for Scotland – raising children out of poverty, helping to boost incomes and tackle the cost of living for working families.

“Ending the two-child limit will help thousands of Scottish children currently living in poverty. Combined with our action on energy bills, the National Living Wage increase, and making infant formula more affordable, this strategy puts more money into the pockets of Scottish families who need it most.”

However, Scottish Government Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said:  “This much delayed announcement is set to the backdrop of stubborn inflation, higher than promised energy bills, and rising child poverty rates in every part of the UK but Scotland.  

“It would appear that the UK Government has taken over a year to deliver a strategy that doesn’t match the Scottish Government’s ambition to end child poverty.”

She went on: “Despite a severe lack of engagement, we have been clear on the need for the UK Government to match our ambition by scrapping the benefit cap and matching the Scottish Child Payment, steps which could help lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty across the UK.”