Labour Turmoil: Harriet Harman Criticizes Rebels Over Two-Child Benefit Cap Vote

Veteran party member Harriet Harman criticizes MPs who opposed the two-child benefit cap, branding them "completely unacceptable" during an interview on Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast. She accuses the dissenting MPs of failing to uphold their commitments to back the government.

Political correspondent @NifS

Friday, July 26, 2024, at 6

A high-ranking member of the party stated that the seven Labour dissenters who sided with the opposition to abolish the two-child benefit limit were completely inappropriate.

On Tuesday, several Members of Parliament, among them ex-shadow chancellor John McDonnell, faced a six-month suspension from the Labour Party. This disciplinary action was taken after they defied the party's official stance by backing an SNP amendment to the King's Speech.

The politicians, who are now unaffiliated, defended their choices. Zarah Sultana, one of them, expressed her commitment to "always advocate for society's most vulnerable members."

In conversation with Sky News' Electoral Dysfunction podcast, Harriet Harman expressed deep despair about the actions of the rebels.

Explainer: Understanding the Two-Child Policy for Benefits

The ex-Labour MP shared with Sky News’ political editor Beth Rigby, saying: "No one compels them to run for office as a Labour MP. If they prefer to be independents, they should simply become independents.

"However, if you commit to a group, you should honor your pledge. They are not the ones suffering here. They have failed to keep their commitments."

Further Explanation on Advantages

What does the benefit limit for two children entail?

Report reveals that individuals phoning the Department for Work and Pensions experienced a total hold time of 753 years

Members of Parliament are poised to cast their votes on eliminating the two-child limit for benefits, with anticipated support from dissenting Labour members aligning with the SNP

Stay informed with the most recent updates from the UK and international news by following Sky News.

Ms. Harman, set to enter the House of Lords as a Labour peer, mentioned that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had explicitly stated before the elections that he would not be able to abolish the two-child benefit policy.

She mentioned that it wouldn't shock her if he took action on the policy in the near future.

The former Member of Parliament noted, "Sir Keir is concerned with child poverty, a sentiment shared by his cabinet colleagues… their understanding of poverty is rooted in personal experiences and aligns with their ideological beliefs."

"They need to manage it without wrecking the financial situation. Remember, the Liz Truss incident wasn't that long ago."

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The policy limiting welfare benefits to the first two children in a family was introduced by ex-Conservative chancellor George Osborne in 2015, under the government's cost-cutting initiatives.

This indicates that although parents are eligible to receive child tax credits or Universal Credit for their first two children, they are unable to do so for any subsequent children.

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For years, Labour MPs have criticized the policy, accusing it of increasing child poverty. Former shadow ministers labeled it as "cruel" and "shameful," and there was widespread anticipation that the party would eliminate it upon gaining power.

In 2023, Sir Keir dismissed the possibility, citing the condition of the government's budget and stating that he would need to "make difficult choices" should he enter Downing Street.

Rather than pursuing previous strategies, the government has initiated a task force dedicated to examining the most effective methods to comprehensively address child poverty.

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