MP Douglas hails effects of ending benefits cap in local area

Politician glad to see a fall in child poverty

- STAFF REPORTER

The removal of the two-child benefit cap will support the families of 2000 local children this year, says West Dunbartonshire’s MP.

The unpopular curb was introduced by the previous Conservative Government in 2017 and is widely believed to have led to a rise in child poverty.

The limit means that many low-income families can only claim universal credit or tax credits for their first two children.

Keir Starmer's government initially refused to scrap the cap on the grounds of cost, but pressure by backbench Labour MPs has forced Chancellor Rachel Reeves to change course in her second Budget.

She said the two-child cap had pushed “hundreds of thousands of children into poverty since it was introduced”.

In 2029-30 an estimated 560,000 families will see an increase in universal credit averaging £5310 per year.

The government says this measure will lift 450,000 children out of poverty.

Douglas McAllister, Labour MP for West Dunbartonshire, said, “My Labour Government has been in power now for 18 months.