Nigel Farage is facing accusations of pushing around 500,000 children into poverty by proposing to reduce a crucial benefit to save money for a 5p decrease in the price of a pint.

The leader of Reform UK revealed a £3 billion support package for pubs, which would be financed by reinstating the two-child benefit cap. This initiative includes lowering VAT to 10% for the hospitality industry, canceling the increase in employer national insurance contributions for hospitality businesses, reducing beer duty by 10%, implementing a new staggered business rate elimination for pubs, and introducing fresh regulations to assist landlords.

By eliminating the two-child limit introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, it is projected that around 450,000 children will be lifted out of poverty by 2029. In response to Farage’s announcement, Labour’s Social Security Minister, Stephen Timms MP, emphasized the importance of investing in the future generation to help them reach their full potential and addressing the cost of living by providing various financial reliefs and support programs for families.

Labour MP for Crewe and Nantwich, Connor Naismith, criticized the trade-off of reducing pint prices by 5p at the expense of increasing child poverty. Another Labour MP, Torsten Bell, highlighted the inconsistency in Farage’s stance on the two-child limit policy.

During a press conference, Farage expressed concern about the dire situation facing the hospitality sector and emphasized the urgent need for support, describing the current state as a looming disaster. Recently, the government announced a 15% reduction in new business rate bills to assist pubs, with further freezes in bills for the following years to aid the struggling industry.