Pendle councillors across all political groups have criticised the new Labour government for ‘continuing a Conservative policy’ of imposing a two-child cap on benefit payments and for other decisions that, councillors claim, are increasing family poverty.
Independent Coun Ruby Anwar, one of a group of Pendle councillors who resigned from the Labour Party last year in protest at its national leadership, won support at the latest full council meeting for her motion calling on the council to write to the new Labour government and local MPs Oliver Ryan and Jonathan Hinder, seeking a reversal of the two-child benefit cap. But the government has defended its decisions and says other plans will tackle poverty.
At the latest full Pendle Council meeting, Coun Anwar said: “In 2017, the Tories introduced the two child cap. It was hoped that Labour would reverse this once they came into power. But that was not the case. The cap disadvantages many families across Pendle. The cost of living has gone up and low income families get battered all the time. This hits families with low or no income. It penalises families who have more than two children.”
A Pendle Council meeting in Nelson Town Hall
(Image: Robbie MacDonald LDRS)
She added: “Think about the cost of living, the price of things like gas, food, clothing and school uniforms. There are families choosing between shopping and heating their homes. We’ve also had the pensioners winter fuel payments issue too. I want Pendle Council to write to the government and local MPs, seek a reversal of this to help struggling families.”
Independent Coun Zafar Ali supported the motion. He said: “There are 14 million people in poverty in the UK. In the past, poverty fell during the first period of the last Labour government but then came the financial crisis of the 2000s. This new government needs to understand the realities of people who are struggling. Hopefully our local MPs will take notice.”
Lib-Dem Coun Tom Whipp supported the call too, saying: “The current system, which includes mean testing, is a system of shame. We should take any steps we can to remove barriers. I also believe in having a system of universal income – universal disposable income. We should get rid of means testing.”
Tom Whipp at Pendle Council
(Image: Robbie MacDonald LDRS)
Independent Coun Asjad Mahmood, the leader of Pendle Council, backed the motion too, saying: “The child cap policy sends a message that some children are worth less than others. The system perpetuates poverty, “
Pendle True Independent Coun Yasser Iqbal said: “The new Labour government has sacked MPs who voted against them in the first few weeks. That was a sign of things to come. We have also had the WASPI women’s pension issue, which Coun Yvonne Tennant campaigned on here. That is another big issue.”
He added: “In my view, Keir Starmer is a hypocrite. He carried a placard saying he’d support the WASPI women then said it cannot be afforded. People right across the board, from pensioners to farmers and low-income families have also been affected by the new government decisions.
“It’s important to send a message to Labour MPs. In the not-too-distant future I think those sacked MPs at Westminster will be asked to come back to Labour. Public approval ratings are low for the new government. They will probably use the new devolution proposals as a tool to avoid local elections in 2025.”
Nadeem Ahmed of Pendle Council
(Image: Robbie MacDonald LDRS)
Pendle’s Conservative opposition leader, Coun Nadeem Ahmed, supported the child benefit motion too. He said: “I was against this decision when it was brought by a previous government. What saddens me now is that we were told Labour would deliver. But in the past, I said Pendle councillors were deluded about this.”
Speaking sarcastically, he added: “”I’m sure our new MPs will write to the government on this, meet Mr Starmer and he will take heed.”
The Labour Party suspended seven MPs last year, after they rebelled over the two-child limit. The government defended its decisions, saying it was not prepared to make ‘unfunded promises’ by abolishing the cap. It said other plans, such as school breakfast clubs, would tackle child poverty. The government has also defended its decisions on winter fuel payment changes for pensioners and farm inheritance tax.
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