The debate over Britain’s welfare system has suddenly turned into a fiery political showdown.
At the heart of it is the controversial two-child benefit cap, a policy that limits how much financial support parents can claim for their children.
Recently, Tory minister Kemi Badenoch took aim at Nigel Farage and Labour leader Keir Starmer, accusing them of racing to scrap this cap and promising more welfare handouts — plans she says are unrealistic and unfair.
Kemi Badenoch Calls Out ‘Race to the Bottom’ on Welfare Promises
Kemi Badenoch didn’t hold back when she slammed both Nigel Farage and Keir Starmer for what she called a “race to the bottom” to remove the two-child benefit cap.
Writing in the Daily Mail, she described their approach as an effort to push taxpayers into funding unlimited child support for others — even as many families struggle themselves.
Badenoch argued that scrapping the cap is neither fair nor sustainable.
She said welfare can trap people in dependency and drive up costs for everyone, insisting that only the Conservative Party is serious about managing public money responsibly.
Farage’s Big Spending Pledge and the Tory Response
Nigel Farage recently promised a massive spending spree of up to £85 billion, including scrapping the two-child benefit cap and restoring winter fuel payments that were cut.
He framed this as “the right thing to do” for working families, aiming to ease the financial burden on lower-paid workers.
However, Farage’s spending plans quickly came under fire.
Economists slammed his numbers as “implausible” and compared his proposals to the chaotic mini-budget from Liz Truss’s tenure, suggesting these promises could cost even more.
In response, Badenoch warned that this was just Jeremy Corbyn’s “magic money tree” dressed up with a Reform UK label.
She painted the Conservatives as the last party standing for “sound money” and fiscal responsibility.
Starmer’s Uncertainty and the PM’s Warning
Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has been less clear on the two-child cap.
Although Labour is reportedly considering lifting it, Starmer dodged direct questions, saying the party was looking at “all options” to tackle child poverty.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has jumped into the fray too, questioning whether voters can trust Farage with the country’s future — from jobs to mortgages.
Sunak dismissed Farage’s claim to represent working people and accused him of using “dirty tricks” reminiscent of Brexit-era politics.
The Battle for Working-Class Votes Heats Up
Farage insists Reform UK is the true party for working people, accusing Starmer of being out of touch.
But the Prime Minister fired back, saying the Conservatives are running out of road, leaving voters to choose between Labour and Reform UK.
Labour is expected to make a formal announcement on the two-child cap in the autumn, but for now, the issue is a hot-button topic shaping the upcoming political battles.
What Does Scrapping the Two-Child Cap Really Mean?
The two-child benefit cap, introduced in 2017, stops parents from claiming certain benefits for any third or subsequent children born after that date.
Removing it would cost the government an estimated £3.5 billion, adding pressure to an already strained welfare budget.
While supporters argue lifting the cap helps struggling families, critics say it encourages dependency and unfairly asks taxpayers to foot the bill for others’ choices.
Political Attacks and Accusations Fly
In recent days, Farage has accused Starmer and others of launching a “Project Fear 2.0” campaign against Reform UK — referencing the intense, fear-based rhetoric from the Brexit referendum.
Farage claims his party’s rising popularity has rattled the political establishment.
A Reform UK spokesperson brushed off Badenoch’s comments, calling them irrelevant since the Tories don’t usually comment on smaller parties.