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Council unites behind motion on scrapping child benefit cap


September 17, 2024 - 429 views

Denbighshire County Council has united behind a Plaid Cymru emergency motion calling on MPs to back scrapping the “abhorrent” two-child benefit cap.

The motion on the cap, which prevents parents from claiming universal credit or child tax credit for a third or subsequent child, with a few exemptions, was brought forward by Cllr Delyth Jones, the Leader of the Plaid Cymru group on the Council.

The motion, which was passed unanimously was seconded by Deputy Leader of the Council Cllr Julie Matthews.

Because the motion was passed, the Council will write to MPs who represent constituents in Denbighshire about the matter.

Labour MPs, Claire Hughes, who represents Bangor Aberconwy, and Gill German, a former Deputy Leader of Denbighshire County Council, who represents Clwyd North, will be urged to reconsider their support for the cap.

The Council will also write to Dwyfor Meirionnydd MP Liz Saville Roberts, of Plaid Cymru, thanking her for voting to scrap the two-child limit.

As a result of the cap parents lose out on £3,235 per year per child compared with families who have a third or subsequent child born before that date.

It came into effect in April 2017 and was among changes to the benefits system which were announced by then Chancellor George Osborne in 2015 as part of the Conservative government’s austerity agenda.

When the SNP put forward a Plaid Cymru-backed amendment to ditch the controversial measure in the House of Commons in July, it failed by 363 votes to 103 - a majority of 260 for Labour.

Keir Starmer suspended seven MPs from the Labour Party including the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell for supporting the amendment.

Other Welsh Labour MPs who refused to back the amendment include Mark Tami (Alyn and Deeside), Becky Gittins (Clwyd East), Steve Witherden (Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr), Andrew Ranger (Wrexham).

The cap has been fiercely opposed by anti-poverty campaigners with Barnardo's Chief Executive Lynn Perry calling the limit "one of the biggest policy drivers of child poverty".

Cllr Delyth Jones said: “With the demand for social services support for children and young people increasing on a scale not previously seen in our county, and the enormous pressure this places on our budget as a council.  

“The Plaid Cymru Group propose that we, as a council write to all the members of parliament who represent our county in Westminster on the matter.  We propose that we ask all relevant members to re-look at their position on the issue of the two-child benefit cap and support the need to abolish it. 

“In so doing, to show their support for Denbighshire's most vulnerable families as well as helping to reduce the demand on our social services locally.”

Following the passing of the motion, Cllr Arwel Roberts of Plaid Cymru said: “The Plaid Cymru group is pleased that the Council has united behind our motion calling for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped.

“This sends a strong message and I would urge MPs representing Denbighshire constituents to take note.

“The cap is an abhorrent policy that punishes for having brothers and sisters.

“It is deeply disappointing that the Labour government is determined to continue with this regressive cap which we know is pushing children in Wales into poverty.

“What is even more disappointing is that Labour MPs in Wales have refused to stand up and be counted on this matter

“Plaid Cymru wants to build a Wales where every child can thrive, but we’re currently a long way away from that.

“We have 65,000 children in Wales feeling the crushing weight of this regressive measure and that number is set to rise if nothing is done to change course.

“During the General Election Labour stood on a message of change but it is becoming abundantly clear that their promises were little more than just words.

“This Plaid Cymru emergency motion is an opportunity for councillors to show they’re truly on the side of Welsh families.

“The Plaid Cymru group urges each and every councillor to support it, especially those who are now Labour MPs.

“It’s vital that we put as much pressure as possible on the Labour UK Government to scrap the two-child limit and invest in our children’s futures.”