'Two child' policy slammed

The British Labour party leader's refusal to commit to scrap the 'two child policy' has been slammed by anti-poverty campaigners.

Derry City and Strabane District councillor, Shaun Harkin (PBP) said the two-child policy barred parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for any third or subsequent child born after April 2017. 

Cllr Harkin added: "The policy also affects income support, jobseeker’s allowance and housing benefit claimants whose applicable amount includes an amount for a child or qualifying young person. 

"Despite pledging to scrap the Tory legislation during the Labour leadership contest, Starmer told the BBC that a Labour Government would keep the controversial Tory policy. 

"This is horrendous backsliding by Labour's Keir Starmer amid a bruising cost of living crisis. 

"Families are being forced into extreme poverty by this cruel and vindictive Tory legislation that was waved into the North by the DUP, Sinn Féin and Alliance.

"Derry and the North is disproportionately impacted by the two-child policy because there tend to be more households with children here and more children in those households," said Cllr Harkin.

Cllr Harkin said the Labour party was supposed to be "on the side of the poor and disadvantaged".

He added: "Under the current leadership this is clearly not the case. 

"We want the Tories out of power as soon as possible. There's a huge appetite for a clean break with government policies benefiting billionaires - not more of the same." 

"According to a report by the Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG), the two-child policy has made UK families poorer. The CPAG produced estimates that showed that the two-child limit is a brutal policy that punishes children simply for having brothers and sisters. 

"It forces families to survive on less than they need, and with soaring living costs the hardship and hunger these families face will only intensify."