Today’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) will be a challenging debut for Keir Starmer as he grapples with significant Labour infighting.
Just two weeks after celebrating a historic landslide victory, Sir Keir now faces a revolt within his party over the two-child benefit cap.
The friction within Labour became apparent when seven MPs defied Sir Keir’s stance on the benefit cap, leading him to suspend these dissenters, including prominent left-wing figures like John McDonnell and Rebecca Long-Bailey.
This move has sparked considerable backlash from within the party, with critics accusing Sir Keir of turning the issue into a ‘macho virility test.’
Zara Sultana, one of the suspended MPs, expressed that she felt at peace with her decision to vote against the cap, citing a commitment to fighting child poverty as her driving force.
On social media, the discontent was palpable, with Corbynite supporters dubbing Sir Keir ‘Sir Kid Starver’ and warning of a brewing ‘timebomb.’
Despite Sir Keir’s large working majority of around 180, the Labour Party is visibly divided.
An amendment to the King’s Speech by the SNP, which sought to end the cap, saw a significant number of Labour MPs abstain. The amendment was ultimately rejected by the Commons with a majority vote of 260.
Reactions and Reflections
In the aftermath, Sultana remained defiant, emphasizing her belief in the need to address child poverty, which affects 4.3 million people in the UK.
She criticized Sir Keir’s approach as trivializing the issue, framing it as a matter of real human lives rather than political strategy.
Similarly, former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott voiced her horror at the severe response against the rebels, despite not voting for personal reasons.
The Bigger Picture
The two-child cap, introduced in 2015 by George Osborne, limits child welfare payments to the first two children in most families.
Critics argue it has exacerbated child poverty, a point echoed by various groups and individuals, including John McDonnell, who has been vocal about his opposition to the measure.
Though the amendment to scrap the cap failed, there are indications that some within Labour are still pushing for its removal.
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has called for thorough consideration before making any policy changes, stressing the importance of financial stability and a comprehensive approach to addressing child poverty.
Financial Implications
The Resolution Foundation estimates that eliminating the two-child cap could cost between £2.5 billion and £3.6 billion in the upcoming fiscal year.
However, they argue that these costs are minor compared to the negative impact of the policy.
Recent figures reveal that approximately 440,000 households are affected by the cap, an increase from previous months, highlighting the ongoing struggle faced by many families.
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