Starmer blasted for backing coverage his personal spokesman slammed as ‘heinous’

The Labour chief has been blasted by the Tories after refusing to again his personal advantages spokesperson over a key left-wing coverage proposal.

Last month, Labour’s shadow work and pensions secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, signalled a Keir Starmer Government would abolish the two-child profit cap, a coverage which he described as “heinous”.

Mr Ashworth instructed the Mirror that the coverage, devised by former Chancellor George Osborne, is “absolutely keeping children in poverty”.

Asked by Laura Kuenssberg on the BBC this morning, nevertheless, Sir Keir insisted he wouldn’t scrap the coverage.

Sir Keir stated: “We are not changing that policy”.

The feedback drew criticism from the Labour chief’s personal aspect, with Ann Black – a member of Labour’s NEC – tweeting: “This is wrong. It punishes children for the actions of their parents”.

“What has the third or fourth little one carried out to deserve this?”

The grassroots Labour group Momentum also slammed the answer, saying: “As Jon Ashworth said, this is a heinous policy”.

“The labour motion is united behind scrapping it. But as soon as once more the Labour Leadership sides with the Daily Mail as a substitute.”

Now the Tories have additionally waded into the row, to pour salt on the Labour wound.

A celebration supply instructed the Express: “Labour are hopelessly divided on welfare because they know their own instincts are at odds with the public”.

“Most voters think the two child policy is fair.”

A YouGov ballot from 5 days in the past confirmed 60 p.c of respondents agreed the 2 little one cap needs to be stored.

Just 22 p.c stated it needs to be abolished, and simply 35 p.c of Labour voters agreed it needs to be scrapped.

78 p.c of Tory voters, 47 p.c of Labour voters and 56 p.c of Lib Dem voters all consider dad and mom ought to cease receiving the profit for his or her third little one and past.