Scotland to Scrap Two-Child Benefit Cap

Sir Keir Starmer has committed to helping the Scottish Government abolish the two-child benefit cap, which restricts benefits for families with more than two children, but has declined to extend this pledge to England. Scottish First Minister John Swinney welcomed Starmer's cooperation, highlighting the need for access to UK government data to implement the change by 2026. However, Labour officials have pointed out that the Scottish Government has not allocated necessary funds for this initiative, which is estimated to cost £150 million. Labour MPs are pressuring Starmer to align with the SNP's action, emphasizing that ending the cap could alleviate child poverty significantly. Starmer, meanwhile, has argued that addressing child poverty requires a multifaceted approach beyond just removing the cap, stressing the importance of health and education as well. The issue is expected to influence the political landscape ahead of the 2026 Holyrood elections.