British Politics

scrapping the two-child benefit cap would lift 300,000 children out of poverty at a cost of £1.7bn a year. No other single measure the government could take would be as cost-effective in reducing the number of children living below the breadline.

Labour’s line is that scrapping the two-child limit is something not currently budgeted for in its programme, so abolition will have to wait until there is money to spare.

A Digital Information and Smart Data Bill will allow people to use digital ID to buy age-restricted products and for things like pre-employment checks

Keir Starmer has drafted into government two leftwing critics of his stance on benefits and green investment, as the prime minister faces pressure to drop Labour’s cautious approach to reviving the economy.

Carys Roberts, the influential director of the Institute for Public Policy Research thinktank, has joined Downing Street’s policy unit as a special adviser, while Rachel Statham, who headed the IPPR’s work on public services, has been hired to lead his policy unit’s work on childcare, the early years and education.

Roberts had been among leading figures behind Labour’s now-scrapped pledge to spend £28bn a year on green investment.

When the plan was controversially ditched earlier this year, the economist warned that such a significant scaling back on investment would “undermine efforts to grow the economy and manage the transition to net zero fairly”. Roberts will advise the prime minister on climate, energy and the environment.

Statham has also criticised Starmer’s economic caution, and argued as recently as last month that his failure to prioritise scrapping the two-child limit on benefits would ensure Labour was making a “plan for substantial increases in child poverty” over the next five years.

Keir Starmer says he is open to processing asylum seekers offshore

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Labour has been investigating an offshore processing plan since before the election as one way to reduce small boat crossings. The party explored a similar solution when last in government, with the then home secretary. David Blunkett. investigating the possibility of sending asylum seekers to Tanzania.

Government officials say they are willing to pursue such a scheme as long as it fulfils three criteria: that it deters new asylum seekers from coming, that it is cost effective and that it complies with international law. One senior official on Thursday described the deal between Italy and Albania as “innovative”.

The idea is likely to prove controversial and refugee charities have already called the idea “immoral”. The charity Care4Calais previously said: “Outsourcing our international obligations to other countries is a shameful policy where everyone loses.”