In a major U-turn for the party, Robert Jenrick has announced that Reform UK would restore the two-child benefit cap in full.
In his first speech as Reform’s Treasury Spokesperson, Jenrick said that the party had changed tack since Nigel Farage last year said that he would scrap the two-child limit and suggested his party wanted to go “much further to encourage people to have children.”
“We want to help working families have more children. But right now, we just cannot afford to do so with welfare. So it has to go. And as Reform’s Shadow Chancellor, I’m ending it. A Reform government will restore the [two-child benefit] cap in full.”
Robert Jenrick
Stating what a Reform government would do to help the 4.5 million children living in poverty, Jenrick said that the party wanted to ensure “that people can have kids,” but “we can’t just do that by spending more and more on benefits.” He added, “Someone has to instil some realism into this business.”
Asked about the U-turn after the press conference, Farage, the Reform UK leader, said that he had only wanted to lift the two-child cap for working British families, but his attempts at being “pro-family” had “failed” and resulted in his being labelled a socialist.
Although Reform UK had mostly dropped its plan to lift the two-child benefit cap before Robert Jenrick became its Treasury spokesperson, it was only today that the party committed to restoring it in full.
Jenrick also said the Motability scheme, which enables disabled people to lease a new car, scooter or powered wheelchair to help them be independent, would be reformed to “end abuse” where “expensive cars are handed out for conditions like tennis elbow and paid for by working people who can’t afford those cars themselves.”
Jenrick also said only British nationals would be able to claim benefits under a Reform UK government, and people claiming benefits for “mild anxiety, depression, and similar conditions” would be stopped.
Those with mental health issues would have to have a clinical diagnosis “to weed out those who are choosing a life on benefits.”
Labour Decries Reform UK’s Move
Responding to the announcement on social media, UK Prime Minister, Keir Starmer called the move “shameful.”
“I’m incredibly proud that this government has scrapped the cruel two-child limit. Reform wants to push hundreds of thousands of children into poverty.”
Keir Starmer
Speaking to reporters in South Wales, Starmer said, “This is shameful from Reform – a total disregard for the lives of young people.”
“I hope that they absolutely never get to be in power, because this is an indication of the sort of Britain that they want to see, a Britain which plumbs its children back into poverty.I do not think that’s what this country needs and I don’t think it’s what this country deserves.”
Keir Starmer
In a statement, Anna Turley, the Labour Chair, said that Robert Jenrick has “united the right behind a cruel child poverty pact that would see nearly half a million kids pushed into poverty.”
“Farage’s party is stuffed full of former failed Tories who are now hell bent on continuing their damaging legacy, with working people and their children set to pay the price. Labour chooses the other road – lifting almost half a million kids out of child poverty – and that’s what we’re doing this year. It’s the right thing to do for them, their families and our economy. It’s appalling that Reform and the Tories would undo that change and leave a lost generation of kids in every corner of Britain.”
Anna Turley
However, in a move to allay market fears, Jenrick appeared to soften the party’s stance on its major financial institutions. He said that the independence of the Bank of England would remain and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) would not be abolished.
Jenrick’s stance appeared at odds with previous statements from Farage, who has been calling for politicians to have greater influence on the central bank, which was made independent in 1997 by the then Chancellor, Gordon Brown.
READ ALSO: Mahama Unveils Mining Sector Industrial Transformation Plan
