SNP MSP for Renfrewshire North and West, Natalie Don, has called out the three newly elected Labour MPs in Renfrewshire, stating that "the Labour Party failed its first major test in government".
This comes after the majority of Labour MPs voted against the SNP amendment to scrap the two child cap last night (23 August), including the three Renfrewshire Labour MPs, causing it to fall by 103 MPs in favour of scrapping the cap to 363 MPs against.
Using the latest data, published by the Department for Work and Pensions, the research reveals the typical cost of the two child cap to families in Scotland this year is £287.92 a month, or £3455 a year, for families with three children, and £575.84 a month, or £6910 a year, for families with four children. In total, some of the poorest families in Scotland have lost a combined £454.8million in financial support since the policy was introduced in 2017/18. Across Britain, families have lost a total of £8.05 billion in support.
The Labour Party failed its first major test in government
This is now the Labour government's two child cap - and it must take ownership of the damage it is causing.
Commenting, Natalie Don MSP said:
“Last night, Labour MPs had the opportunity to deliver meaningful change from years of Tory misrule by immediately lifting thousands of children out of poverty and abolishing the two child benefit cap - they made a political choice not to do so.
“Data shows that in Renfrewshire alone, 790 households (63%) in receipt of Universal Credit or Child Tax Credits are not receiving financial support for at least one child as of April 2024, which equates to 63% of all recipients.
“However, all three of the newly elected Labour MPs across Renfrewshire voted to keep this cruel cap in place under their Labour government, which will unnecessarily keep children and families in our communities in poverty.
"This is now the Labour government's two child cap - and it must take ownership of the damage it is causing.
"The SNP will continue campaign vigorously for the cap to be abolished at the earliest opportunity, as we have done since its introduction in 2015. It is the very worst of Westminster’s welfare cuts, and every day it remains more children suffer.
"The Labour government has a moral duty to go much further and faster to tackle child poverty. Scrapping the cap is the bare minimum we should expect. In order to eradicate child poverty, the UK government must take much bolder action, including matching the Scottish Child Payment UK-wide by raising Universal Credit by £26.70 per child, per week at the UK budget.
“It is clear that the Labour Party failed its first major test in government.”