Local MPs vote against lifting two child benefit cap

An open  letter to three Labour MPs in Newcastle from the Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Team

Thousands of children in our country live in poverty, dependent on food banks, especially here in Newcastle. 

The two child benefit cap has been cited as one of the biggest contributors in causing so much financial hardship for many families.  You will be well aware that the Liberal Democrats introduced a motion on this subject at Newcastle City Council recently, and this connection was widely recognised. 

It is hugely disappointing to see Newcastle’s MPs, who now control the Government, voting against scrapping the two child benefits cap in the recent vote in the House of Commons.  

You as our MPs will have huge decisions to make if you are to change the lives of constituents.  You are in Government but are you in power?  

This decision looks like Labour was a wasted vote for those who wanted to see real change. Labour said you’d make people’s lives better.  You’ve failed at the first test. 

The Liberal Democrats in Parliament voted to scrap this cruel policy and shows that the Liberal Democrats will always do right. 

With this early failure to lift the cap – or even promise to do so soon – our MPs owe it to the residents, who put their trust in them, to explain why their party is not willing to take the step that so many bodies think is the most effective way to tackle child poverty. 

Yours etc 

Ali Avaei, Aidan King, Mark Ridyard 

Newcastle Liberal Democrats Parliamentary Team 

(Pictured here with former Newcastle Councillor Tom Gordon MP)