What does Starmer’s U-turn on child benefit mean for Labour?

The opposition leader has found himself at odds with his own ministers after saying he would not reverse Tory cuts to child benefit, writes Sean O’Grady

The Labour Party appears to be divided over the removal of the two-child benefit cap (AFP via Getty)

Keir Starmer has ignited a minor civil war in his party by promising to keep the Conservatives’ “austerity” policy of limiting child benefit to the first two offspring. Labour MPs are reported to be furious, while the Tories say it simply proves that the Labour leader is a man without principle. Politically, though, things aren’t quite as simple as that...

Has Starmer flip-flopped?

It does very much look that way. In February 2020, admittedly before the pandemic and Brexit inflicted their damage on the British economy, Starmer, the shadow Brexit secretary, tweeted: “We must scrap the inhuman Work Capability Assessments and private provision of disability assessments (eg ATOS), scrap punitive sanctions, two-child limit and benefits cap.”