Lifting children out of poverty has always been an available choice

Budgets represent a series of not just economic choices, but a number of political trade-offs. Far from simply highlighting a government's spending plans; they also shine a light on a government's political priorities.

- Sharon Hodgson

As our second budget approached, it posed the questions: what is this Labour government about? Who do we want to be for?

Last week's budget provided this confirmation; we are a government of political fairness and social justice, who invests in our young people, protects the most vulnerable in our society and takes care of our public services.

An increase in taxes on the gambling industry and a 'mansion tax' on properties worth over 2 million allowed us to lift the two-child benefit cap - a decision I have long campaigned for - which will lift 450,000 children out of poverty including 2,600 children in my constituency and 48,000 across our region.