Bishops join calls for end to 2 child profit cap

Various Church of England bishops have joined in calls for an end to the two-child limit on advantages.

The cap was first introduced by the Conservative government led by David Cameron around a decade ago. At the time it was opposed by Labour, nonetheless the present Labour government has not removed the cap.

The cap was introduced in an effort to curb Britain’s huge welfare bill. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has suggested that the cap will probably be removed “when economic conditions allow”.

The Bishop of Leicester, Martyn Snow, the Church of England’s lead bishop for child poverty issues, along with the bishops of Gloucester and Manchester, have added their names to a letter to Starmer calling for the immediate removal of the cap.

The letter was signed by a spread of individuals and was primarily arranged by Labour peer Baroness Lister and promoted by the group Alliance 4 Children.

The letter states, “Allowing child poverty to deepen is a self-defeating policy that undermines these very ambitions. The children and families affected by this policy cannot afford to attend any longer.

“According to the Child Poverty Action Group, greater than 100 children are pulled into poverty each day the limit stays in place. This is an urgent crisis requiring urgent motion.”

While Labour is split on the problem, mainly because of practical financial concerns, the Conservatives remain committed to the cap on fiscal responsibility grounds.

By contrast every other party is currently committed to removing the cap, whether left or right in persuasion. The Liberal Democrats, Greens, Reform UK, the SNP and Plaid Cymru have all signalled their opposition to the cap.

The policy has long been unpopular with the leadership of the Church of England. In 2018, a yr after the policy was implemented, 60 bishops wrote a letter to The Times calling for a rethink and saying that it will drive families into poverty.