What's happened
The Scottish Government plans to abolish the controversial two-child benefit cap, aiming to lift 15,000 children out of poverty. Finance Secretary Shona Robison announced this initiative as part of the budget, which requires cooperation from the UK government to implement. The move is seen as a challenge to Labour's stance on the issue.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Alistair Grant in The Scotsman, the Scottish Government's pledge to scrap the two-child benefit cap is a strategic move ahead of the 2026 Holyrood election, with Finance Secretary Shona Robison stating, "Be in no doubt that the cap will be scrapped." Meanwhile, Kate Devlin from The Independent highlights the pressure on Labour to address the cap, noting that the policy has been labeled 'cruel' by charities. The Guardian emphasizes the broader implications of this policy, stating it is the UK's biggest driver of child poverty, and challenges Labour to act where the Scottish Government has taken the lead. This contrast in perspectives illustrates the political stakes involved in the upcoming elections and the differing approaches to social welfare between the Scottish and UK governments.
How we got here
The two-child benefit cap, introduced by the UK government in 2017, restricts families from claiming benefits for more than two children. This policy has been criticized for exacerbating child poverty, affecting 1.6 million children across the UK. The Scottish Government has prioritized eradicating child poverty.
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Shona McRory Robison is a Scottish National Party politician serving as the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Housing and Local Government since May 2021.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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John Ramsay Swinney is a Scottish politician serving as Deputy First Minister of Scotland since 2014 and Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills since 2016.
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The Scottish National Party is a Scottish nationalist and social-democratic political party in Scotland. The SNP supports and campaigns for Scottish independence within the European Union, with a platform based on civic nationalism.