Labour to lift 8,700 local children out of poverty

1st December, 2025

Last week, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced that she will lift the ‘two child benefit cap’, in a move welcomed by many think tanks and charities.

This single measure will lift 450,000 children out of poverty by the end of the decade, including 8,700 here in Hounslow.

Commenting on the Government announcement, Councillor Samia Chaudhary, Cabinet Member for Education, Children, Skills and Employment, said:

“This is fantastic news for the 8,700 local children who will be lifted out of poverty.

“Tackling child poverty is a driving mission for this Labour Government, and we’re seeing the effects of that here in Hounslow.

“We’ve already seen the first breakfast clubs rolled out at Marlborough and Cavendish Primaries and thousands more local children become eligible for free school meals.

“This month, the Government also announced £600 million to fund the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which saw over 2,800 local children engage in fun activities over the summer, taking some of the pressure off parents.

“No child deserves to grow up in poverty. As a Labour council, we’re making it easier for struggling parents to access support, as we open Community Hubs in each of our 11 libraries.”

TWO CHILD BENEFIT CAP – BACKGROUND

Introduced by the Conservatives in 2013, the benefit cap places a limit on the support families can receive from means-tested benefits.

THE COST OF CHILD POVERTY

Child poverty costs government millions by increasing demands on public services and reducing future tax receipts.

It has been estimated that lifting the cap could save the Government over £1.5bn a year in the medium term, because of lower demand for public services.
An additional £490m returned to government through taxation and reduced spending on social security.

MOST AFFECTED CHILDREN COME FROM WORKING FAMILIES:

59% of affected families have at least one working parent

LABOUR EXTENDS FREE SCHOOL MEALS:

Earlier this year, the Government extended free school meals to all children in households receiving Universal Credit.

Children in Hounslow, between Year 3 and Year 11 whose families rely on Universal Credit, will now be eligible for free school meals. This includes:

8,680 Children in Feltham & Heston
6,770 Children in Brentford & Isleworth

This is on top of the Labour Mayor of London already funding free school meals for all state primary age pupils.