Church leaders: Scrap two-child tax credit limit

Condemned as ‘a burning injustice’

SIXTY faith leaders yesterday urged Theresa May to ditch the Tories’ “two-child” policy for child tax credits.

The limit restricts support given to families with more than two children – sparking fears 200,000 more youngsters will be driven into poverty.

Clerics marked its first anniversary by calling for the policy to be dumped.

The Bishop of Durham Paul Butler said: “The Government has an opportunity to right this wrong by removing its two-child limit policy.

“We urge the Prime Minister to address this burning injustice.”

Much criticism has focused on the “rape clause”, which makes women who had a third child through rape fill out a form to prove they are exempt.

The Church of England, Board of Deputies of British Jews and Muslim Council of Britain want the limit axed.

Families who had a third child on or after April 6, 2017, are hit as are those who make a new claim even if

The PM has an opportunity to right this wrong by removing the two-child limit policy

BISHOP OF DURHAM ON THE PLEA FROM 60 FAITH LEADERS

their offspring were born before the date. Child tax credit is worth up to £2,780 per child a year.

The £1.2billion-a-year cut has led to a legal fight by the Child Poverty Action Group, who said: “The policy says some children are less deserving.”