Coalville councillor and NWL Parliamentary spokesman, Craig Smith has spoken out in support of maintaining the Government’s two-child benefit cap, following a renewed push by opposition parties to scrap the policy.
Introduced in 2017, the cap limits the amount of additional Universal Credit or Child Tax Credit families can claim if they have more than two children. It does not affect Child Benefit, which remains available for all children in families earning under £60,000 a year.
Cllr Smith says the policy encourages fairness between working households and those receiving welfare support. “For working families across North West Leicestershire, financial planning is part of everyday life,” he said. “Having children is one of the biggest decisions couples make, not just emotionally, but financially too. It’s only right that families on welfare face the same considerations.”
The cap has come under fire recently, with the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK calling for its removal. Labour, too, is rumoured to be considering a U-turn on the policy. Critics argue that the cap unfairly punishes large families and deepens child poverty.
But supporters like Cllr Smith insist the policy is a matter of economic responsibility. “Scrapping the cap would create a two-tier system, where working parents are penalised, and those not working are rewarded without the same financial pressures,” he added. “That’s not fair, and it’s not sustainable.”
A Parliamentary vote on the issue is expected within days, forcing MPs to publicly take a stance.
“In a cost-of-living crisis, hard choices must be made,” Smith concluded. “The welfare bill is already spiralling. We need policies that reward work and personal responsibility, not ones that promise easy answers with long-term costs.”
