109 kids are falling into poverty every day because of the two-child limit. The government must scrap it for all children. Please share.

Very thoughtful letter from my brilliant aunt @katharinesut.bsky.social @theguardian.com we need to do much more to make work work, & we need to address the systemic issues that lock ppl in poorly paid jobs. Improving procurement practices would be a great start www.theguardian.com/money/2025/n...

Today, I turn 45 & enter the second half of my 40s. It feels scary, but has made me reflect on how fortunate I am in lots of ways. Despite the rain (& there's lots of it), I am chuffed to be working back in Scotland w/ ace colleagues & students @uofgussp.bsky.social @uofglasgow.bsky.social 🧵 of 🌈

Fully repealing the two-child limit on benefits is by far the best way to ensure fewer children are growing up in poverty. Half measures – from moving to a three-child limit to exempting working families – would all still lead to an increase in child poverty by the end of the decade.

I can’t envisage a child poverty strategy which garners any credibility without fully scrapping the two-child limit. Unconvinced? Check out (even better share) this summary of the peer-reviewed evidence base @kittyjstewart.bsky.social @aaronreeves.bsky.social largerfamilies.study/publications...

Budget month is here, and it’s time for the rumours to be pushed to one side and Labour to lay the groundwork to act decisively on child poverty. This must and can only start with a full scrapping of the two-child limit.

On 23rd October, we headed to a Child Poverty Strategy roundtable hosted by Baroness Lister at the HoL. Our participants delivered powerful testimonies & their speech can be read here📣: changingrealities.org/writings/cha... @uofgussp.bsky.social @ippr.org @cpaguk.bsky.social

Not long ago, a Labour source said the two-child cap was ‘popular with key voters, who see it as a matter of fairness’. In the other corner, the injustice of the cap is ‘so simple even a six-year-old gets it’. I’m with the six-year-old. If you know anyone who isn’t, show them this. 👇

This was very cathartic to write, and I'm grateful to @samfr.bsky.social for giving me the space to try and set out just why the two-child limit must go, and go in its entirety [mini 🧵]

Great new research that is worth a read for anyone interested in the politics of fiscal policy. For me, two key takeaways: - Voters will punish Labour for failing on child poverty, whatever they say about two-child limit as standalone policy - Voters love wealth taxes, even when framed negatively

Today, we attended a roundtable at the HoL hosted by Baroness Ruth Lister on the subject of the Child Poverty Strategy. CR participants, inc. Jo & Brian, delivered powerful testimonies, using the space to push for an ambitious Strategy that genuinely confronts the root causes of child poverty. ✊

Our participant James has written an excellent piece for @scotsman.com. ✏️ "The fight for true social justice is long and arduous. But for that hour or so, in that grand room, we were not just the ‘marginalised’ or ‘the beneficiaries’, we were the experts." Read: www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

“We were given the space to speak our truth to power” What happened when parents & carers met @johnswinney.bsky.social to discuss child poverty? Single parent James of @changingrealities.bsky.social reflects on a 'remarkable' meeting in @scotsman.com www.scotsman.com/news/politic...

We can all agree that the current systems of Special Educational Needs support are failing but the next step is to agree what change is needed to build a better, more inclusive system that works for all children www.changingrealities.org/writings/wha... [short 🧵, launching new @changing_r note]

A couple of weeks ago, CR participant Brian spoke to @newstatesman1913.bsky.social about the continuation of the cost-of-living crisis, which he feels politicians have "completely pushed to one side." Read more: www.newstatesman.com/politics/eco... @uofglasgow.bsky.social @uofgussp.bsky.social

Read the latest Safety Nets Blog here: www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202... @haylesben.bsky.social @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social

Opening with a panel and Q&A at 1 pm, 27 Oct, at James McCune Smith Learning Hub. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/52-squares...

Our latest @safety-nets.bsky.social project blog is out. We reflect on spatial inequalities and disability benefit reforms. And the pickle UK gov changes might create for subnational and devolved authorities.

New RSA Blog 📉 “The Growth Gamble” explores how UK welfare reform, deindustrialisation & regional divides intersect. By Sioned Pearce, @haylesben.bsky.social, Mhairi Ross & @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social. 👉 www.regionalstudies.org/rsa-blog/202...

Current proposals will make it even harder for people with cancer to get financial support for the extra costs it brings. Scrapping WCA means many patients will have to meet PIP criteria instead. PIP currently fails to recognise the specific and unique ways cancer treatment disables people.

As Yom Kippur ends, it is terrible that a holy day has seen people killed at a place of worship in Manchester I hope many of us will express solidarity + support for Jews in Britain, and work with them + those of every faith and none to deepen our efforts to tackle antisemitism, hatred + extremism

Looking forward to discussing the vital need for improved support for children and young people with send with @theifs.bsky.social @helenmiller.bsky.social & colleagues, drawing on our own recent @changingrealities.bsky.social briefing changingrealities.org/writings/wha...

To reduce child poverty, government must scrap the two-chid limit. And that means fully scrapping it – no benefit cap, no tapers, no new limit. All children deserve the best start in life, and messing around the edges of this policy won’t cut it. 2/2

As part of the work of our new #CentreForPeoplesJustice @cfpjustice.bsky.social we've created this video about the making of #HillsboroughLaw (aka the Public Office (Accountability) Bill), intended to get public authorities to tell the truth: youtu.be/MCoSZzEOWLk?...

No ifs, no buts. The two-child limit needs completely scrapping, and the benefit cap with it. Punchy @theguardian.com leader making this case www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Starmer pledged to take action on child poverty this afternoon. The first step to doing this has to be the complete eradication of the punitive two-child limit and benefit cap. The future of all of our children demands nothing less. Half way through steps & staging posts do not suffice.

Hearing Jonny speak was one of my highlights of Labour Party conference - do read his piece

‘An announcement on [the two child limit] at conference would bring the house down’ Jonny Roberts from @changingrealities.bsky.social saying it as it is in @labourlist.bsky.social ahead of Keir Starmer’s speech labourlist.org/2025/09/chil...

An invigorating start today wirh the @cpaguk.bsky.social swimmers crew at Albert Docks Let’s get the Child Poverty Strategy this country needs, & get rid of sewage from our nation’s waters Both achievable. Both urgently needed. @sascampaigns.bsky.social

As they arrive at the Labour Party Conference, we're greeting Keir Starmer and his MPs with a message that demands a screen bigger than 21,000 mobile phones*: "What was the point of winning the general election if not to lift kids out of poverty?" 1/3

This week @clemmiehilloconnor.bsky.social & are presenting at the Scottish Government's Public Participation Learning Network our paper on lived experience as evidence. Info on the paper available here in this SKAPE @uoe-sps.bsky.social blog: www.skape.ed.ac.uk/skape-lived-...

Sun out in Bradford as I commute from one city centre train station to the other on way to Labour Party conference in Liverpool. Get in touch if you’re there & fancy chatting social security, participatory policy making and what ever became of the Northern Powerhouse

NEW insights from @haylesben.bsky.social 🔍 📝 Holyrood 2026: Addressing poverty and inequality must be at the top of the agenda After our @parliament.scot #FoP2025 panel, Dr Hayley Bennett examines anti-poverty policymaking post-2026 Scottish Parliamentary Election. 🔗 www.gla.ac.uk/research/az/...

Making news headlines in the Arran Banner is what dreams are made of. Super proud of my ace friend Steph for taking first place in style www.westcoasttoday.co.uk/sport/female...

Fab to see the SSAC boost its expertise and especially good to see the appointment of my amazing Glasgow colleague @profsharonwright.bsky.social

Some more artwork for my office door from @povertyalliance.org “Scotland demands better” march (on 25th October in Edinburgh) just above my favourite photo by Kirsty Mackay “Tax the rich”.

Please do read and share this thread on @changingrealities.bsky.social parents and carers take on what needs to be in the schools white paper. Echoes much of what @johnharris1969.bsky.social said yesterday, & what thousands of parents are calling for.

Please do read and share this thread on @changingrealities.bsky.social parents and carers take on what needs to be in the schools white paper. Echoes much of what @johnharris1969.bsky.social said yesterday, & what thousands of parents are calling for.

6,000+ children live in Temporary Accommodation (TA) in Lambeth 40,000+ people are on their social housing waiting list TA is anything but 'temporary'. Households need the five basics: Cooking facilities Laundry access Wi-Fi Secure storage Clear information Thanks IMRO for campaigning lunch

Hopefully there is now a clear understanding across govt that unless the two-child limit is scrapped, there will be more kids in poverty at the end of this parliament than when Labour took office. The policy must go in the child poverty strategy before the life chances of many more kids are damaged.

Moody morning for my dawn commute to @uofglasgow.bsky.social through the dales

Amazing resource with contributions from my @uofglasgow.bsky.social colleagues @kirsteen-paton.bsky.social and @academicdiary.bsky.social

Solidarity to all university workers right now. Especially if, like us, you’re being put through a prolonged “reshaping process” of chaotic redundancy phases. If you don’t already know much about your employment rights and proper practices, take a look at ACAS website: www.acas.org.uk

“I feel confident and hopeful.” Parents from @changingrealities.bsky.social - led by @ruthpatrick0.bsky.social - met with @johnswinney.bsky.social and @sa4dunfermline.bsky.social for discussions about the Scottish Government's Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan. More: gla.ac/3VGnVH0

Yesterday, Changing Realities parents sat around the table with the First Minister, John Swinney, and Cabinet Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, for vital discussions about the Scottish Government’s Tackling Child Poverty Delivery Plan.

The government has committed to tackling poverty among all children, including those subject to the UK’s asylum and immigration system. But recent reforms and proposals mean that we’re likely to see poverty increase, including deep poverty among some children in immigrant families.

Nowhere (and nothing) compares to the inner Hebrides in the sunshine. Not sure I’m ready to face back to school / work / online life. Send survival tips my way.

This time next week I’ll be gearing up to run a half-marathon 🏃‍♀️ I’m raising money for UNICEF’s Gaza appeal - if you can, please help me reach my target before the race and donate whatever you can spare to help get food, water and vaccines into Gaza www.justgiving.com/page/eve-liv...

Love writing with Tracey Jensen, one of my academic heroines, although a shame that this piece on the need to FINALLY end the two-child limit even needs to be written @csp-journal.bsky.social