MPs voted 458-104 to abolish the cap, which marks a major moment in dismantling a policy depriving kids of heating and food, and came despite opposition from Nigel Farage’s Reform party
19:23, 03 Feb 2026Updated 20:49, 03 Feb 2026
A bill to scrap the two-child benefit limit has passed a major hurdle(Image: PA)
A bill to scrap the two-child benefit limit has passed a major hurdle after MPs voted to end the cruel cap.
MPs voted 458-104 to abolish the cap, which marks a major moment in dismantling a policy depriving kids of heating and food. The result came despite opposition from Nigel Farage’s Reform party, as well as Kemi Badenoch’s Conservatives.
The policy – blamed for trapping kids in poverty – will be axed from April and help lift 450,000 kids out of poverty. Announced by Tory welfare slasher George Osborne and introduced in 2017, it restricts Child Tax Credits and Universal Credit to the first two children in a household. The vote came during a second reading, meaning there is one more Commons vote to pass the bill.
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Responding to the vote, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Pat McFadden said: “Today Parliament took a crucial step towards delivering on our promise to tackle child poverty. This is about changing the story of children’s lives. It’s about giving every child a genuine shot at life – so they can do well at school, stay healthy, and go on to contribute to their community as adults.
“By scrapping the two-child limit and alongside our Child Poverty Strategy, we will lift 550,000 children out of poverty by the end of this Parliament. That is an investment worth making – for those children, for their families, and for the whole country.”
In a blow for Mr Farage, both Robert Jenrick and Suella Braverman went against the Reform party line and backed the bill, as they were reportedly unsure which voting lobby to join.
During a debate on the vote, Labour MPs urged the Government to be “truly ambitious” in its plans to lift children out of poverty. Chairwoman of the Work and Pensions Committee Debbie Abrahams welcomed the draft law which will scrap the two-child benefit cap, but described it as a “down payment”.
The Labour MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth said: “We are lifting 450,000 children to 500,000 children out of poverty, which is fantastic, but this is just about 10% of all children that are living in poverty. So we need to have our eye on that 90% that is still remaining. That is an important first step, but it’s the first step.”
Helen Hayes, who chairs the Education Committee, also pressed for further measures to tackle child poverty and “not simply lifting the poorest children just above a threshold”.
She said: “I want the Government to be truly ambitious in tackling child poverty, not simply lifting the poorest children just above a threshold, important as that is, but ensuring that right across our country, children can truly thrive.
“That will require action on some of the other causes of poverty: housing costs and the shocking number of children living in temporary accommodation, food and energy costs, access to support for families in communities, and an education and skills system that really works for everyone.”