Rayner doesn’t affirm if two-child profit cap to be abolished-OxBig News Network

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has refused to verify whether or not the federal government is planning to scrap the two-child profit cap.

On Sunday, the Observer reported that Sir Keir Starmer had privately backed abolishing the restrict and requested the Treasury discover the £3.5bn to take action.

The coverage prevents most households from claiming means-tested advantages for any third or extra kids born after April 2017.

Asked on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg if she wish to see the cap go, Rayner mentioned: “I’m not going to invest on what our authorities goes to do.”

She pointed to the institution of a Child Poverty Taskforce, which had been contemplating whether or not to take away it, amongst different measures.

“We’re wanting within the spherical on the challenges. That is one ingredient,” she mentioned.

It follows the delay of the government’s child poverty strategy – being labored on by the taskforce – which had been due for publication within the spring. The BBC has been advised it might be set out within the autumn.

On Tuesday, a memo from Rayner’s division was leaked to the Daily Telegraph, which appeared to induce the chancellor to “claw again” youngster profit funds from wealthier households, alongside a number of different solutions.

Asked if she backed the proposal, Rayner refused to be drawn. She advised Sunday with Laura Kuessberg that ministers have been “taking a look at youngster poverty” and that she supported what the federal government had achieved to date.

She was additionally categoric in her denial of being behind the leak. “I don’t leak. I feel leaks are very damaging,” she mentioned.

It was put to Rayner that some in Labour had characterised her as jostling for Sir Keir’s job because of the memo being shared.

“I don’t need to run for chief of the Labour Party. I rule it out,” she mentioned, including that being the deputy prime minister was the “honour of my life”.

She additionally denied that there have been splits in Sir Keir’s cupboard, saying: “I can reassure you the federal government is strong.”

Questions across the two-child profit cap come after the prime minister announced a U-turn on cuts to winter fuel payments, following weeks of mounting stress.

Sir Keir mentioned the coverage could be modified within the autumn Budget, including that ministers would solely “make choices we will afford”.

Asked if any change would arrive earlier than this winter, Rayner mentioned it could be for Rachel Reeves to stipulate on the “subsequent fiscal occasion”.