Scottish Labour will use Universal Credit review to demand end of two child benefit cap

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Anas Sarwar will use a review of universal credit by an incoming Labour Government to push for the end of the two-child benefit cap.It comes as pressure mounts on UK Labour leader Keir Starmer to rethink his opposition to scrapping the Tory policy.Starmer put himself at odds with Scottish Labour when he said a Government led by him would not axe the two-child limit due to cost.Sarwar, who leads the party north of the border, has said he will “press” for the curb to be lifted if Starmer enters Downing Street.It is understood a Scottish Labour delegation was satisfied with the outcome of a national policy forum meeting at the weekend which will feed into the party’s general election manifesto.Commitments included a comprehensive child poverty strategy, a review of all aspects of Universal Credit by Labour in power, as well as creating well paid jobs.One source said the UC review would be the vehicle to put pressure on a Labour Government to act.A second insider said Labour in office would likely scrap the cap, but Starmer did not want to be explicit ahead of the election.Left-wingers and moderates in the Scottish party have been uneasy with the Starmer position.Blair McDougall, the former Better Together chief who is aiming to stand for Labour at the election, wrote of his frustration at the way Starmer answered the question on the subject.Labour MSPs Pam Duncan-Glancy, Monica Lennon and Mercedes Villalba among others have also restated their opposition to the cap.Duncan-Glancy, a member of Sarwar’s top team, wrote: “It’s a horrific policy that puts and keeps people in poverty and must be scrapped.”Starmer appeared to double down this week on his opposition to scrapping the cap.After being quizzed by a member of the public