TWO Labour MSPs have slammed Keir Starmer after he confirmed the party would not be ditching the two-child benefit cap.
Monica Lennon slated the Labour leader earlier in the month as he suggested getting rid of the controversial law was not party policy, suggesting some of her colleagues were scared of deselection.
And after Starmer confirmed Labour would not be altering the rule brought in by ex-Tory chancellor George Osborne to the BBC on Sunday, Lennon bluntly said on social media this was the “wrong policy” and urged members to fight against his agenda.
She said: “This is the wrong position and it’s down to us as Labour members to change it.”
This is the wrong position and it’s down to us as Labour members to change it. https://t.co/c59YnIXt5E
— Monica Lennon MSP (@MonicaLennon7) July 16, 2023
Mercedes Villalba, meanwhile, highlighted that Starmer was elected on a pledge to get rid of the two-child cap – which restricts benefits support to the first two children.
She said ditching it is what Labour members want and what the country needs.
Her tweet, which was shared by Lennon, said: “Keir Starmer was elected leader of the Labour Party on a pledge to scrap the two child limit.
Keir Starmer was elected leader of the Labour Party on a pledge to scrap the two child limit. It's what Labour members want, it's what the public expects, and it's what the country needs. Labour must be a Party of principle that puts the people first. pic.twitter.com/Scd3e2WDsZ
— Mercedes Villalba MSP (@LabourMercedes) July 16, 2023
“It's what Labour members want, it's what the public expects, and it's what the country needs. Labour must be a Party of principle that puts the people first.”
Starmer pledged back in 2020 that he would get rid of “punitive sanctions” including the two-child cap as part of a plan to reform social security laws.
The policy means households claiming tax credit or universal credit are unbale to claim for a third or subsequent child born after April 6, 2017.
Labour MP Mick Whitley also hit out at his leader saying the two-child cap was causing "misery" for thousands of young people.
He cited how shadow secretary of state Jonathan Ashworth called it a "heinous" policy recently and hinted Labour would scrap it.
He said on Twitter: "I was elected on a platform committed to scrapping the two-child limit, which our Shadow and Work and Pensions Secretary recently correctly described as 'heinous'.
I was elected on a platform committed to scrapping the two-child limit, which our Shadow and Work and Pensions Secretary recently correctly described as "heinous". The two-child cap is causing misery for thousands of young people in Birkenhead. This is the wrong call. https://t.co/kTSiuaQ9mc
— Mick Whitley MP (@MickWhitleyMP) July 16, 2023
"The two-child cap is causing misery for thousands of young people in Birkenhead. This is the wrong call.
It all points to increasing frustration over Starmer’s policy agenda appearing to fall in line with the Tories as he attempts to work his way into Number 10.
He was also panned after his interview with Laura Kuenssberg for suggesting he didn’t mind if people called him a “fiscal conservative”.
Starmer was asked if he was “relaxed” with the term being attributed to him.
He repeatedly dodged the question on whether or not he was happy with it, at first saying he was a “responsible, Labour politician” and that he “wants a responsible Labour government”.
Kuenssberg continued to press the Labour leader on being labelled a “fiscal conservative” given he is clear on growing the economy before spending money and whether or not he had a problem with this.
“I don’t really want to get into a discussion on what other people might call it. I want to explain my position”, he said.
He then added: “I don’t mind what label people put on me. I do want to make my argument.”
In recent months Starmer has also abandoned his plans to commit to free university tuition, while plans to nationalise railways, Royal Mail, energy companies and water firms have essentially been scrapped, with Starmer saying the current economic situation meant this would be too expensive.
Labour have also backed away from tax rises, despite Starmer promising to increase income tax for the top 5% of earners, reverse planned cuts in corporation tax, and clamp down on tax avoidance.
Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said recently she has “no plans” to increase income tax.
