The Prime Minister opened Cabinet by inviting the leaders of the
Commons and the Lords to update on business in both Houses,
including the second reading of the Railways Bill in the Commons
today.
Turning to Ukraine, the Prime Minister updated Cabinet on his
meetings with President Zelenskyy, President Macron and
Chancellor Merz at Downing Street yesterday. He said the stakes
remained high, but the UK continued to work with all
its partners to make progress on securing a just and lasting
peace for Ukraine. The Foreign Secretary added that the threat
from Russia was wider than just Ukraine, against Europe and to
undersea cables.
The PM then turned to the Child Poverty Strategy, thanking all
those who had been involved. He said it was hugely important for
this government and a defining mission to drive down child
poverty - and one we would deliver. The Prime Minister added that
the strategy was one the Cabinet should be proud of, because of
its impact on children's health, wellbeing and ability
to get on in life. He then handed to the Education Secretary
to update on the strategy.
The Education Secretary thanked the Prime Minister and said the
two-child limit had adversely affected working families,
including those who had lost partners suddenly or their jobs at
short notice. She said the majority of children in
poverty were from working households. The Education Secretary
said the Child Poverty Strategy should be seen as part of a
broader commitment to driving down the cost of living, including
free school meals, breakfast clubs and helping families buy more
affordable infant formula. She added the government would deliver
the biggest reduction in child poverty in a single parliament
since records began.
The Work and Pensions Secretary added that if a young person goes
on to sickness benefits early in life, they will miss out
on £1m or more of earnings over a lifetime. He said we
can make a bigger, more exciting offer to young people across
health, training and opportunity than a life on
benefits. The Health Secretary thanked the Prime Minister,
Education Secretary and others for driving through the
Child Poverty Strategy, which would change children's
lives.
