Hamilton, Clyde Valley - Christina McKelvie MSP, the passionate voice for Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse, has launched a scathing attack on the heartless two-child cap imposed by the Tories. In a no-holds-barred statement, McKelvie demanded that Labour MP and Assistant to the Chancellor Imogen Walker join the fight against child poverty and scrap this cruel policy that punishes struggling families.
1.6 million households across the UK are affected by the regressive two-child cap. This callous measure, introduced by the Conservative Government, has left hundreds of thousands of innocent children trapped in the vicious cycle of poverty.
Save the Children estimates that abolishing this cap could lift half a million children out of relative poverty.
Christina McKelvie has called on Imogen Walker to support the amendments to scrap this heartless Tory policy.
The Scottish Labour Leader has already declared the Tory cap as "wrong" and urged Keir Starmer to scrap it. This places UK Labour MPs in Scotland in an awkward position, highlighting incoherent positions at a UK and Scottish level for the Labour party.
The two child cap is the first major rebellion brewing for Keir Starmer’s political project, with Labour MPs like John McDonnell announcing they may vote for amendments put forward by the SNP to scrap the cap.
Christina McKelvie MSP has urged Imogen Walker MP to use her unique position of power as the Personal Private Secretary to Rachel Reeves to push for a change in Government policy to scrap the Tory Cap.
Commenting Christina stated, " The two-child cap is nothing short of a cruel punishment for innocent children, trapping families in a cycle of poverty and denying them the opportunities they deserve. It was always a heartless attack on struggling families by the Tory Party – for the Labour Party to keep it in place would be unthinkable.
"It is time for Imogen Walker MP and the Labour Government she represents to stand up for what is right and prioritize the well-being of children over party politics. This regressive Tory policy must be scrapped without delay to help lift more than half a million children out of poverty.
“If the UK Labour MPs in Scotland ignore Anas Sarwar’s calls to scrap the two child cap and fail to vote for the SNP amendment in the commons today it will highlight the complete lack of influence Scottish Labour have within their own party.”