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Listen to ITV West Country’s budget explainer
Families across the South West have welcomed the decision to scrap the two-child benefit cap.
In her budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said “families are finding times hard” and “children shouldn’t have to bare the brunt of that”.
She confirmed that the two-child benefit cap would be scrapped in full from April.
Rachel Reeves said her measures were the right choice for a fairer, stronger and more secure Britain, adding that they would provide “immediate relief for families”.
Mum of 4 Tasha Williams watching the Chancellor’s speech Credit: ITV West Country
Tasha Williams, a mum of 4 from Swindon, shed tears of joy as she said: “The two cap limit going, I am absolutely ecstatic, I can’t describe in words, without crying, how pleased I am that it’s lifted, for so many families it means so much.
“People don’t realise how many working families there are out there that have been trying their best but then penalised because of having another child and now that means they are going to live a little bit better and not have to worry or stress so much.
“It’s trying to divvy up the money you have left between all the kids and trying to make sure it’s fair. My 17 and 13 year olds are money wise, so they don’t ask for things, this means they won’t have to go without anymore.”
Ms Williams added that the change to the cap will be lifechanging: “We have about £70 a week to spend on food, that’s not a lot for six of us, every week we get to a Monday and there’s nothing in the fridge, but I won’t have to worry about that because I know that little bit extra is there each month now so it’s going to be so much better.”
Anna with Cara and Jonathan with Tess Credit: ITV West Country
At the Bounce and Rhyme group in Newton Abbott, ITV West Country spoke to Jonathan & Anna who have three children, including 11-month-old twins Tess and Cara about the removal of the two-child benefit cap.
Jonathan said: “There are millions of children in this country in poverty and it was a Victorian, disgusting policy so it’s brilliant that that’s been removed.
“We have a demographic shift in this country so it’s important to remove barriers to people raising families. It’s the biggest single thing they could have done to move children out of poverty.”
Anna added: “What’s a Labour government for if they can’t make changes like that?”
Also at the group, Shanay, with 8-month-old Sully, said: “Everything has gone up in price, it’s difficult to manage but doable.”
Tristram Macey Credit: ITV West Country
At Jungle Jacks soft play in Newquay Tristram Macey had taken his son Malaky, but listening to the Chancellor he was more concerned about increased costs to his surf shop business
Mr Macey said: “Things like food, energy prices are really expensive. It’s a real pressure on the family income at the moment.
“We’re a one child family, we’re going to have to sit down and look at where we spend our money, not even saving really, just trying to get through the monthly bills and the food costs, fuel prices, it’s really really tough.
“Free child care hours has helped, but then we don’t get to spend so long with Malaky, so there’s for and against.
“The cost of everything is so high at the moment, we haven’t had a break, we haven’t had a holiday and I think there are more challenges to come.”Kirsty Blake, a mum of one and expecting a second child, said: “We’ve definitely noticed the difference over the last year, the cost of shopping has increased and all the bills are going up and up.”
In other moves in the budget, the 5p cut in fuel duty is being maintained until September 2026. Meanwhile, existing freezes to personal tax thresholds are being extended for another three years until 2030-31.
Kemi Badenoch told MPs that Labour should rename itself “the ‘Welfare Party’”
The Conservative leader told the Commons: “Every decision that the Chancellor and the Prime Minister make puts more pressure on the people who keep this country going.”
She said: “It’s Conservatives who are the party of work. The Labour Party should be renamed the ‘Welfare Party’.”
Mrs Badenoch also suggested Wednesday’s Budget was a missed opportunity to save £23 billion from the welfare bill, adding: “The British public don’t want higher welfare spending – they want people in work, providing for themselves. They want to live in a country where hard work pays, where what you put in reflects what you get out. And we agree with them.”
Pointing to Jennie, Liberal Democrat MP for Torbay Steve Darling’s guide dog, who was rolling face up on the Commons’ green carpet, Mrs Badenoch continued: “Even the dog is laughing at the Chancellor.
“She could have applied our golden economic rules, allocating half of those savings to cutting the deficit, using the rest to cut taxes. She could have abolished stamp duty on homes to get the housing market moving, abolish business rates on shops to breathe life into our high streets.”
