The Deputy Prime Minister took on Chancellor Rachel Reeves as she signalled a u-turn on the two child cap and demanded answers in ‘weeks’ in winter fuel
Angela Rayner addresses reports of tensions with Reeves
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner declared war on Chancellor Rachel Reeves in a bombshell television interview demanding a the Treasury confirm details of the winter fuel payment u-turn in “weeks” and revealing that she is part of a review looking at ending the two child benefit cap. She also effectively confirmed reports that she sent a memo to the Chancellor demanding tax rises, saying: “It’s not rocket science that the Deputy Prime Minister speaks to the Chancellor and talks about fiscal events.”
It was reported over the weekend that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is pushing for an end to the two-child benefit cap – putting him on collision course with Rachel Reeves, who is understood to be worried about the £3.5 billion cost. Last year Sir Keir suspended seven Labour MPs after they voted against the cap, which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children.
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Angela Rayner demands middle class families lose key benefit in leaked memo
But Sir Keir has now told cabinet ministers that he wants to scrap the cap himself, as Labour fears about the rise of Reform grow.
Asked by Trevor Phillips on Sky News if the two-child cap should be lifted, Ms Rayner confirmed that a “taskforce” reviewing child poverty was considering the change. She said: “This is what we’re looking at as part of the child taskforce.”
And highlighting her personal involvement, she said: “It’s the ministerial team that are looking at this, which I’m a member of.”
Ms Rayner also called on the Government to clarify the winter fuel u-turn swiftly. Sir Keir has said more pensioners will receive the money but more details will not be announced until a “fiscal event”, understood to mean the Chancellor’s Budget statement in the Autumn.
But Ms Rayner said an announcement should be made at a spending review on June 11.
She said: “We’ve got the upcoming spending review and I’m sure the Chancellor will set it out at the first opportunity.”
Sir Trevor asked her: “A couple of weeks’ time?” Ms Rayner replied: “I hope so but I don’t know.”
The Deputy Prime Minister also insisted she would not comment on a leaked memo in which she called on the Chancellor to increase taxes instead of cutting spending, but at the same time she effectively confirmed the reports were true.
She said: “I’m not going to discuss conversations or leaks Trevor because that’s not how we do government. But what I will say is it’s not rocket science that the Deputy Prime Minister speaks to the Chancellor and talks about fiscal events in the round, or that I will pitch for my department.
“I could sit here and say no it doesn’t happen, but most of your viewers will know it’s quite common.”
