How the Left demonised reform

THE benefit cap faced sustained criticism from Left-wing opponents, who claimed it would push families into poverty and force them out of cities.

A group of bishops led by the then Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams warned in 2011 that there was a risk the welfare reform could make thousands of children homeless.

In an open letter, they said the Church of England had a ‘moral obligation to speak up for those who have no voice’.

They argued that the cap could be ‘profoundly unjust’ to the poorest children in society, especially those in larger families and those living in expensive major cities. Former Liberal Democrat children’s minister Sarah Teather, who voted against the cap in the Commons, branded it immoral and divisive.

Miss Teather said that imposing a limit on people who live in areas such as her then London constituency, Brent Central, would have a ‘horrible’ and ‘traumatic’ impact.

In the Lords, an alliance of bishops, senior Liberal Democrats and independent peers attempted to derail the plans in January 2012.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown, who led the revolt, said he was rebelling against the policy because of the ‘unacceptable’ hardship that it would cause children.