Labour MPs urge Starmer to rethink two-child benefit cap decision

Commitment to keep controversial policy has opened splits ahead of national party meeting

Keir Starmer's decision not to scrap the two-child benefit cap if Labour wins power has exposed deep splits within the party, as he faces mounting calls to rethink the policy.

Facing the prospect of a battle at this week's national policy forum (NPF) over the controversial decision, shadow cabinet ministers were sent out to defend his position. They argued that if Labour wanted to appear fiscally credible at the next election, it could not make any spending commitments without saying how they would be funded.