Angela Rayner “won’t speculate” on reports the government could exempt children under five from the two-child benefit cap.
The Guardian first reported the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) was considering the change, alongside other tweaks like exempting parents of disabled children and parents in work, and increasing child benefit payments for parents of young children.
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The paper also said there had been discussions about raising the cap to three children.
Ms Rayner said there had been “high levels of child poverty” under the Conservatives, and the government set up a task force “immediately once we were elected” to reduce it.
“That work is ongoing,” she added.
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Labour ‘committed’ to reducing child poverty
The deputy prime minister refused to speculate on what specific measures could be taken, but said Labour are “absolutely determined to look at the evidence – and where we can make a real impact, we will deliver”.
“Like the previous Labour government did in reducing levels of child poverty, this Labour government is absolutely committed to doing the same,” she said.
A DWP spokesperson said: “We do not comment on speculation.
“Our ministerial taskforce is exploring all available levers across government to give every child the best start in life as part of our plan for change.”
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What is the two-child cap?
How many children are impacted by it?
The two-child cap was introduced in 2015 as part of David Cameron and George Osborne’s austerity measures.
It means parents can only claim tax credits or Universal Credit for their first two children.
Many in the Labour Party, including Sir Keir Starmer, criticised the cap before entering government.
As recently as 2020, Ms Rayner branded the two-child cap “inhumane” and called for it to be axed.
However, the prime minister said he would not scrap the cap due to it being too expensive as last year’s election loomed closer.
Sir Keir ended up ejecting seven MPs from the parliamentary Labour Party last summer after they voted against the government over the issue.
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The government has set out plans to try to reduce the amount spent on benefits and other support in a bid to rein in public spending.
But with fully removing the two-child cap likely to cost billions of pounds, it is unlikely to be a step the government can take any time soon.
