Political reporter, BBC Wales News<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Wales’ first minister has called on Sir Keir Starmer to scrap the two-child benefit cap.<\/p>\n Eluned Morgan said her government was “really worried about child poverty” and called the policy, brought in by the Conservative UK government in 2017, “damaging”.<\/p>\n She said it “prevents most families from claiming means-tested benefits for any third or additional children born after April of that year”. UK government Education Secretary for England Bridget Phillipson said on Tuesday<\/a> the policy had driven many families into poverty and “nothing is off the table” as ministers consider scrapping it. <\/p>\n Plaid Cymru accused Morgan of “staggering hypocrisy”, for previously criticising its calls to end the cap.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n But the Welsh Conservatives warned ditching the cap “would come at a financial cost – ultimately borne by hardworking taxpayers”. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Speaking to BBC Wales at the Urdd Eisteddfod on Wednesday, Morgan said her Welsh government was “really worried about child poverty”.<\/p>\n The first minister met the prime minister last week<\/a> in London, following disagreements between the pair and Morgan calling on the Sir Keir to “cough up for Wales”.<\/p>\n The UK government is expected to announce its decision on the cap in autumn, when it publishes its child poverty strategy.<\/p>\n “Today we’ve issued a statement to call on the UK government to get rid of the two child benefit cap,” said Morgan.<\/p>\n “We think it is damaging for lots of families in Wales.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s spending review, which sets out the UK government’s financial priorities between now and the next general election, is due to conclude next month.<\/p>\n Asked why now is the time to scrap the child benefit cap policy, Morgan said it was “not a new ask” from the Welsh government, but a case of “putting it up in neon lights”, adding: “Now is the time that the decisions are being made in relation to the spending review.<\/p>\n “There are a lot of other competing issues. I want rail money for Wales as well.<\/p>\n “I get that the chancellor has some tough decisions to make. But Labour needs to be the party that’s concerned about child poverty, and we are.”<\/p>\n Morgan said she had “a really good relationship” with Sir Keir and she could “speak very frankly” with him.<\/p>\n “But there’s an understanding that I’m running a government here in Wales, and he’s running a government,” she added.<\/p>\n “Sometimes, our priorities are slightly different. I have to speak up for Wales and that’s what I do.<\/p>\n “This spending review is key, it’s critical, but not all of the decisions, not all of the things we want, will be determined in the spending review.<\/p>\n “We may have to wait until the budget in the autumn to get some of the other things we were calling for.”<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Plaid Cymru accused her of “staggering hypocrisy”.<\/p>\n Plaid social justice spokesperson Sioned Williams said: “Just last Christmas, Eluned Morgan derided Plaid Cymru for demanding the two-child cap be scrapped,” she said.<\/p>\n “As recently as last October, Labour MSs voted against our calls in the Senedd to stand up for children in poverty and end this cruel cap.<\/p>\n “Meanwhile in Westminster, not a single Welsh Labour MP backed our efforts to scrap it – and Keir Starmer suspended his own MPs for voting to protect children.<\/p>\n “Now, suddenly, Labour are changing their tone. One would be forgiven for thinking this isn’t about principle, but panic driven by polling, not values.”<\/p>\n![\"BBC](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/3c93\/live\/c23e0420-3bbc-11f0-ab2d-a33f931f78dd.png.webp\")
BBC<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n‘Panic’<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n