Torsten celebrates boost for Swansea children and biggest cut to child poverty on record
Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, has thrown his support behind a key measure in the UK Government’s Budget that will boost the living standards of almost 4 children in every local classroom and are expected to lead to the biggest fall in child poverty of any Parliament on record.[1]
In last week's Budget, the Government abolished the two-child limit, which has seen almost half of children in families with three or more children growing up in poverty. The move was funded by a slate of measures including higher taxes on online gambling, the growth of which has seen NHS referrals surge.
Scrapping the two-child cap will immediately benefit almost 3,000, or 1 in 7 children in Swansea West and 69,000 children across Wales.[2] Together with other UK Labour Government measures, half a million children across the UK will be pulled out of poverty.[3]
Introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, the two-child cap is widely recognised as a key driver of child poverty in the UK, which soared to record highs under the previous.[4] Official statistics show that more than a quarter of children in Swansea West are now living in poverty.[5]
The announcement has been welcomed by organisations and leaders across civil society.
Torsten Bell, MP for Swansea West, said: “When I stood for Parliament after years leading an anti-poverty charity it was because it was time to act and bring child poverty down.
“The Conservatives claimed the two-child limit was to punish irresponsible parents, but all it actually did was punish children and cost us all. One in four children in Swansea West are now living in poverty, blighting their childhoods and limiting their potential.
“There’s a lot more to be done to bring about the change people voted for. But I'm proud to be part of a government that is tackling child poverty, putting more money into public services in Wales, boosting wages and cutting energy bills for all of us.”
Rob Stewart, Leader of Swansea Council, said: “We’ve seen first-hand the impact that the Tory 2 child benefit cap has had on children living in Swansea, For many years now, the Labour run council in Swansea has been calling for UK Government’s to scrap the cap and I’m really pleased to see this Labour Government has listened. This will make a huge difference to Swansea families, lifting children out of poverty and giving them the best possible start in life.” [1] DWP, ‘Low income poverty projections for children, FYE 2025 to FYE 2030, November 2025’
Cherrie Bija, CEO of Faith in Families, said: “At Faith in Families, we see every day how poverty leaves children cold, hungry and carrying worries no child should bear. Ending child poverty takes all of us, government, charities and businesses. The UK Government lifting the two-child benefit cap will give families in Wales some breathing space and real hope. If we want Wales to be a great place to grow up, we must all stand beside every child and advocate for them, this is only the beginning”
Sources
[1] DWP, ‘Low income poverty projections for children, FYE 2025 to FYE 2030, November 2025’
[2] Child Poverty Action Group
[3] DWP, ‘Low income poverty projections for children, FYE 2025 to FYE 2030, November 2025’
[4] The Resolution Foundation, Save the Children, Trussell, Child Poverty Action Group and Citizen’s Advice all called for the cap to be abolished. DWP figures show that relative child poverty after housing costs increased by 900,000 between 2010 and 2024.