𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Reform had previously pledged to lift the cap for families where both parents are British and in full-time work. But in a speech this morning, Mr Jenrick said: “Today, Reform is changing our policy on the two-child cap for Universal Credit.

“We want to help working families have more children. But right now, we just cannot afford to do so with welfare. So it has to go.

“And, as Reform’s Shadow Chancellor, I’m ending it. A Reform Government will restore the cap in full.”

The two-child benefit cap has been scrapped under Sir Keir Starmer following pressure from Left-wing Labour MPs, while the Tories have said they would restore it.

In his first outing in his new role, Mr Jenrick added: “Our benefits system is broken. It’s an economic and a moral disaster.

“That’s why I commit to you today, if we win the next election: Reform will defuse the benefits bomb set to bankrupt Britain.

“We are developing the most comprehensive plan for welfare reform in British politics, which we will set out in the months ahead.”

Mr Jenrick will also pledge that only British nationals will be able to claim benefits under a Reform government.

And he said Reform would crack down on “spurious” mental health claims and “require clinical diagnoses to weed out those who are choosing a life on benefits”.

Mr Jenrick said: “Reform will always protect the vulnerable. And those who’ve worked hard but fallen on tough times,

“The number claiming disability benefits for an attention disorder has more than doubled since Covid. We all know a significant number of these claims are spurious.

“We will stop those with mild anxiety, depression, and similar conditions from claiming disability benefits and instead encourage them into the dignity of work.”

He also promised to “end the abuse of the Motability scheme, where expensive cars are handed out for conditions like tennis elbow, and paid for by working people who can’t afford them themselves”.