Like SNP MSPs and MPs all over Scotland, I oppose the UK Government's two-child limit. Previously, I opposed the Conservatives’ two-child cap. Now, unfortunately, it is the Labour Party’s two-child cap we are up against.

Here's some of the reasasons why I oppose the cap: 

Glasgow North West CAB supported a woman who, when she separated from her husband, found herself and her children reliant on universal credit. Imagine discovering, on the breakdown of your marriage, when you need support the most, that the UK Government takes the view that only two of your four children will be supported financially. To put it bluntly, the family will deliberately not be given enough money to live on.

In another example, a father whom Glasgow North West CAB supported had to give up work in a well-paid job in the most tragic of circumstances. The dad had to somehow support four children aged between three and 12 when, sadly, their mum died. As a father, I can only imagine having to support children in such tragic and distressing circumstances. Finding himself in financial difficulty, the dad was supported to make a claim for universal credit. Imagine a UK Government that, in essence, tells a grieving dad that it will not offer adequate support for two of his children. Do those children not count? Do they not have needs and rights?

 

SNP - ending the cap

Despite the UK Labour Government voting to keep the cap, the SNP Scottish Government will fully mitigate the two-child cap. 

You can read the news from the First Minster here:- https://www.gov.scot/news/fm-removing-two-child-limit-will-help-thousands/

Parliamentary Debate

You can watch my speech in Parliament (where I have raised some of the examples above) by clicking here.

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* These are available to people who get a qualifying benefit, such as Universal Credit