Labour leader Keir Starmer is going to face a crucial moment in Parliament as the SNP said it would seek to table an amendment to outlaw the two-child benefit cap during the king’s speech debate. SNP’s Stephen Flynn complained for retaining the policy and accused the Labour party of indulging in child poverty in Scotland.
While many Labour MPs have always been against the cap, Starmer has failed to adamantly denounce the elimination and this has been causing criticisms from within and outside Labour showing how deep-seated the split is within the party regarding social welfare issues.
1. SNP Amendment Proposal
SNP is set to bring an amendment to parliament to repeal two-child benefit cap policy and try to outdo the labour party under Keir Starmer leadership.
2. Labour’s Position
Ever since Starmer has come to power, he has not guaranteed the act will be repealed, even though he is under pressure from within the Labour party, and outside it, due to concerns of the fiscals.
3. Political Dynamics
Despite having a comfortable majority of 169, Labour cannot afford to suffer a defeat on the motion for a vote on the king’s speech but the SNP move is indeed a clever psychological probe and a campaigning device in the next elections.
4. Public and Political Response
The two-child benefit cap hit 1. 6000 children consequently, documenting its impact in families throughout Great Britain and increasing pressure of the parties to deal with the conflicts surrounding child poverty.
