Stephen Morgan MP has voted to scrap the two-child limit in Parliament, lifting 450,000 children across the UK out of poverty.
Speaking after the second reading of the Bill, Stephen Morgan, MP for Portsmouth South, said:
“I have long campaigned for action to lift children out of poverty, and to ensure that all children in Portsmouth are able to get the best start in life.
“Poverty can be a crucial factor in whether a child is able to succeed in education, with less than a quarter of children in the lowest income households getting five good GCSEs.
“Beyond this, these children are more likely to experience mental health conditions, not be in education, employment or training and to face a life on benefits.
“I am proud to vote to end the two-child limit introduced by the Conservatives and allow children the opportunity to succeed. Over 5,000 Portsmouth children are set to benefit from this change.
“This investment into Britain’s future is yet another example of this Labour government putting Labour values into action and delivering the change Portsmouth people voted for.”
Removing the two-child limit is the single quickest and most cost-effective way to lift children out of poverty – 450,000 by this measure alone, rising to 550,000 with other measures in the Government’s Child Poverty Strategy.
Other measures in the Child Poverty Strategy include support for working families to stop children growing up in B&Bs, expanding childcare for families on UC and helping parents save up to £500 on baby formula.
Measures in the Bill are due to come into effect from April 2026.
