Scrapping two-child limit is landmark moment for children, says IPPR

Responding to the Budget, Professor Ashwin Kumar, director of research and policy at IPPR, and former advisor to Gordon Brown, said: 

“Today marks a landmark moment. The life chances of 1.6 million children have been improved, with 450,000 children lifted out of poverty by the end of the parliament. This will boost health, attainment, and future earning prospects for children across the country. 

“Ten children in every classroom are living in poverty — in the sixth richest country in the world. The two-child limit has played a particularly damaging role in this. Since its introduction in 2017, the policy has actively punished hundreds of thousands of children for the perceived ‘sins' of their parents. 

“All eyes now turn to the upcoming child poverty strategy – the chance to ensure no child is left too hungry to learn, too cold to sleep, or too poor to thrive.” 

NOTES TO EDITORS 

• IPPR research has shown that the two-child limit pushes 80 children a day into poverty: https://www.channel4.com/news/factcheck/factcheck-two-child-benefit-cap-will-push-80-children-a-day-into-poverty-exclusive-data-shows