SNP tables amendment to scrap two-child benefit cap

The prime minister has faced pressure from within his own party to abolish the cap. Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside Kim Johnson also submitted an amendment, external to end the policy on Wednesday.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie have both said they want to see it scrapped. Previously Mr Sarwar said he would pressure the PM to ditch the policy if Labour won the election.

Meanwhile the Scottish secretary, Ian Murray, said his party wanted to get rid of the cap but they cannot afford to yet.

On Wednesday he told BBC Radio Scotland’s Drivetime programme: “The prime minister has said himself that he wants rid of this two-child benefit cap, he’s been pretty clear about that.

“The honest thing to say to the public is we will do this, we want to do it. It is something we want to get rid of but we cannot afford to do that and we won’t make a promise we cannot deliver.”

Ministers responsible for the new child poverty taskforce have met children’s charities and campaigners, who say scrapping the cap is the most cost-effective way of reducing child poverty.

Mr Murray added the government’s taskforce on child poverty and review of universal credit would have a “laser-like focus on making sure that poverty is eradicated in this country”.

Asked how long it would take, he said the government would have to grow the economy before it could invest in public services and deliver reforms.

“These things are going to take time. We can’t do everything overnight. We would like to do a lot of things that we can’t do because we’re hamstrung by the situation that we’ve inherited,” he said.

“We will do things as quickly as we can.”