Gordon Brown has urged for the complete elimination of the two-child benefit cap, increasing the pressure on Keir Starmer’s administration to take action. The former Labour Prime Minister criticized the high levels of child poverty in Britain, labeling it a disgrace and a stain on the nation’s conscience during a significant address on Thursday. This call for action coincides with Keir Starmer’s deliberation on either abolishing or softening the Tory-established policy, which charities blame for ensnaring children in poverty by limiting Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit to the first two children in a family.

Recent reports suggest that the government is exploring alternatives such as implementing a new tapered rate or imposing a three-child benefit cap to lessen the impact of the austerity measure. A review on child poverty is anticipated to be released alongside Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget presentation on November 26.

Brown emphasized the negative impact of the two-child rule, attributing the annual rise in child poverty figures to this policy. He stressed that the government’s goal of reducing poverty by the end of the Parliament and meeting the new target for school-ready children under five cannot be achieved without abolishing the two-child rule entirely.

Additionally, Brown criticized the introduction of the policy by former Chancellor George Osborne, stating that it unjustly targeted families in need and perpetuated negative stereotypes. He emphasized the importance of eradicating the two-child rule completely to prevent further injustices.

During the event commemorating the 60th anniversary of the Child Poverty Action Group, Brown commended the efforts of former Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. He expressed dismay at the approximately 4.5 million children currently living in poverty, highlighting this as the highest figure in six decades.

Homelessness minister Alison McGovern, speaking at the same event, refrained from disclosing specifics of the Government’s strategy but mentioned plans to address financial challenges faced by families dealing with poverty-related costs. She acknowledged that child poverty hinders families’ progress in life by trapping them in financial struggles.

A Government spokesperson noted that the upcoming strategy will outline measures to address the structural and underlying causes of child poverty.