The education secretary has said that removing the two-child benefit cap is “not off the table”.
Asked on Sky News if it was something the government was considering, Bridget Phillipson said it was “not off the table – it’s certainly something that we’re considering.”
She continued, telling viewers “we’ve always been clear that social security measures are an important part of what the child poverty taskforce is looking at.
“What I think your viewers will also appreciate is that we inherited a really difficult situation where it comes to the public finances. These are not easy or straightforward choices.”
The MP for Houghton and Sunderland South went out of her way to say that the two-child benefit cap was “not something a Labour government would have introduced. It was a Conservative measure.”
She said:
Phillipson said “it’s personal to me, because, you know, for part of my childhood, I experienced what too many children right now in our country are experiencing, and I know the damage it does.”
She said that the government were expanding childcare provision and had raised the minimum wage, adding:
Bridget Phillipson has said Reform UK are “just not serious people” when asked about the expected announcement fromNigel Faragelater today that it would be their policy to make winter fuel payments universal.
She told viewers of Sky News that “I don’t think anybody would seriously believe that millionaires should be getting it.”
Broadening her attack onReform UK, which has been leading in recent polls, the education secretary said:
Labour party chairEllie Reeveshas launched an attack on the “self-interest” ofNigel Farageahead of the Reform UK leader making a speech today in which he is expected to label prime ministerKeir Starmer“unpatriotic”.
Reeves said:
Nigel Farage is expected to give his speech at 11am today.
Good morning, and welcome to our rolling coverage of UK politics for Tuesday. Here are the headlines …
Education secretaryBridget Phillipsonhas said that removing the two-child benefit cap is “not off the table” as she defended Labour’s record on introducing measures to tackle child poverty
Labour party chairEllie Reeveshas said thatNigel Faragecares only about his own “own self-interest” ahead of the Reform UK leader giving a speech this morning in which he is expected to callKeir Starmerunpatriotic
Nearly half of all “red wall” voters disapprove of the wayStarmer’s governmenthas dealt withbenefits-related policy,a poll has found, as ministers faced continued pressure over winter fuel and disability payments, and the two-child benefit cap
More than 100 of the UK’s most high-profile disabled peoplehave called on the prime ministerto abandon “inhumane and catastrophic plans to cutdisability benefits”
It is Martin Belam with you today, and you can reach me at martin.belam@theguardian.com via email if you spot typos, errors, omissions or have a question.