Streeting explains why Labour disagrees with Braverman on ending child benefit cap

Labour MP Defends Party’s Position on Child Benefit Cap

Wes Streeting has defended his party’s policy not to scrap the cap on child benefit for just two children in each household. His comments in an exclusive interview with The Independent came just ahead of rightwing former home secretary Suella Braverman shocking Westminster by calling for an end to the controversial policy brought in by the Tories during their coalition with the Lib Dems.

Labour’s Position on Child Benefit Cap

• Labour had previously supported scrapping the child benefit cap but reversed their position due to affordability concerns.
• Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves stated that the policy was unaffordable, which sparked anger and debate within the party.

Mr Streeting, speaking to The Independent about his autobiographical book – “One Boy, Two Bills and a Fry Up” – explained why Labour does not currently support scrapping the cap.

Suella Braverman’s Call for Change

In her article for The Daily Telegraph, Suella Braverman dedicated her thinking to the work of the late Labour peer, former MP, and welfare reformer Frank Field. She advocated for the scrapping of the two-child benefits limit, which restricts child tax credits and universal credit to the first two children in a family. Braverman argued that this policy aggravates child poverty and called for its abolition.

Wes Streeting’s Perspective on Child Poverty

Mr Streeting highlighted the issue of poverty in the UK, stating that it forces women to choose to have abortions because they cannot afford to keep the child. However, he emphasized that addressing child poverty goes beyond providing handouts and requires a social security safety net that acts as a springboard to help people find work and achieve a good standard of living.

He acknowledged the challenges posed by public debt and limited resources, but urged people to judge Labour based on their track record of lifting millions of children and pensioners out of poverty during the last Labour government. Mr Streeting expressed confidence that a Labour government led by Keir Starmer would continue to tackle child poverty and work towards eliminating it entirely.

Reactions to Labour’s U-Turn

When Labour abandoned their plans to scrap the two-child benefit cap, several party members and organizations criticized the decision. Stella Creasy, Rosie Duffield, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, and Scottish leader Anas Sarwar were among those who spoke out against the U-turn. The Fabian Society described it as “nasty dog whistle politics,” while the trade union Unison deemed it “cruel.”

A longer interview with Mr Streeting will be published ahead of the Hay Festival, which runs from May 23 to June 2.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 1: No Poverty
• SDG 2: Zero Hunger
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
• SDG 4: Quality Education
• SDG 5: Gender Equality
• SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth
• SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 1.2: By 2030, reduce at least by half the proportion of men, women, and children of all ages living in poverty in all its dimensions according to national definitions.
• SDG 2.1: By 2030, end hunger and ensure access by all people, in particular the poor and people in vulnerable situations, including infants, to safe, nutritious, and sufficient food all year round.
• SDG 3.8: Achieve universal health coverage, including financial risk protection, access to quality essential health-care services, and access to safe, effective, quality, and affordable essential medicines and vaccines for all.
• SDG 4.1: By 2030, ensure that all girls and boys complete free, equitable, and quality primary and secondary education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes.
• SDG 5.4: Recognize and value unpaid care and domestic work through the provision of public services, infrastructure, and social protection policies and the promotion of shared responsibility within the household and the family as nationally appropriate.
• SDG 8.5: By 2030, achieve full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men, including for young people and persons with disabilities, and equal pay for work of equal value.
• SDG 10.4: Adopt policies, especially fiscal, wage, and social protection policies, and progressively achieve greater equality.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Indicator 1.2.1: Proportion of population living below the national poverty line, by sex and age.
• Indicator 2.1.1: Prevalence of undernourishment.
• Indicator 3.8.1: Coverage of essential health services (defined as the average coverage of essential services based on tracer interventions that include reproductive, maternal, newborn, and child health, infectious diseases, non-communicable diseases, and service capacity and access).
• Indicator 4.1.1: Proportion of children and young people (a) in grades 2/3; (b) at the end of primary; and (c) at the end of lower secondary achieving at least a minimum proficiency level in (i) reading and (ii) mathematics, by sex.
• Indicator 5.4.1: Proportion of time spent on unpaid domestic and care work, by sex, age, and location.
• Indicator 8.5.1: Average hourly earnings of female and male employees, by occupation, age group, and persons with disabilities.
• Indicator 10.4.1: Labour share of GDP, comprising wages and social protection transfers.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators