Reform UK has been gradually binning some of its costly policies, as it seeks to reassure voters and financial markets its economic policies are credible.
As a result, some of the party’s more radical positions – such as its promise to deliver tax cuts worth £90bn a year – have been abandoned, bringing it into closer alignment with Labour and the Conservatives on economic policy.
Scrapping the cap was seen as a potential vote-winner for Reform UK, as government figures showing the majority of households affected by the policy are in work.
Chancellor Rachel Reeves had been under growing pressure to remove the cap, with Labour MPs and charities arguing this is the most cost-effective way to reduce child poverty.
The government estimates the measure will mean 450,000 fewer children will be in relative poverty by 2029-30.
But the Conservatives – the party Jenrick defected from recently – have criticised Labour’s decision to lift the cap, arguing people on benefits should have to make the same financial choices about having children as everyone else.
Reform UK’s pledge to restore the cap closes down that line of political attack and draws a divide with Labour.
“We are the party of alarm clock Britain,” Jenrick said. “We are a party of workers, not welfare.”
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said Jenrick’s announcement on the two-child benefit cap was “shameful”.
“Reform wants to push hundreds of thousands of children into poverty,” he added.
Conservative shadow chancellor Sir Mel Stride said Reform’s policies “would completely trash our public finances and leave Britain with a huge deficit and ballooning debt”.
“Can we even trust their savings when it was Reform who pledged last year to scrap the two-child benefit cap,” Sir Mel said.
“Reform’s story changes by the day, and their numbers simply do not add up.”