When discussing child poverty, it’s not a theoretical conversation for me. I think about my mother and the lingering guilt she carries, showing how poverty affects not just one’s living conditions but also self-perception.

During my speeches on poverty in Parliament, I notice the apologetic messages my mother conveys, as if she bears responsibility for the situation, when in reality, the fault lies with the indifferent politics of my upbringing.

Conservatives and Reform fail to grasp that poverty goes beyond financial status. It includes feelings of shame, stigma, and self-blame that endure over time.

Historically, government policies exacerbated these issues. For instance, the two-child limit not only reduced support but also sent a harmful message, devaluing certain children and families.

Today marks a significant change as Labour’s decision to eliminate the limit is expected to lift nearly half a million children out of poverty, including 3,000 children in Bournemouth, many from working families struggling within a system not designed for them.

This action signifies a concrete step towards addressing the cost of living, prioritizing tangible solutions that benefit individuals and provide children with a fairer start in life.

Moreover, this move is part of a broader shift towards higher wages, lower expenses, and increased assistance for essential family needs.

However, it’s crucial to acknowledge that such progress is at risk due to the intentions of Conservative and Reform to reinstate the two-child limit, a move that would plunge hundreds of thousands of children back into hardship during times when families are already financially strained.

Their approach to blame individuals for their struggles and ration support based on perceived “deservingness” reflects outdated and damaging rhetoric that perpetuates self-blame and limits opportunities for children.

Ending the two-child limit signifies a pivotal moment to combat child poverty rather than perpetuate it, showing support for families without passing judgment.

Children do not choose their circumstances of birth, but politicians can choose the type of society they wish to create, and this Labour government is clear on which side it stands.