Zia Yusuf warns migrant families are the real winners from benefit splurge | Politics | News
Zia Yusuf warns many migrant families will benefit from Labor’s blessings (Image: Getty)
Zia Yusuf has warned that migrant families are the “big winners” of Labor benefits.
Nigel Farage’s home affairs spokesman has warned that Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ decision to scrap the two-child benefit limit is a “disgusting insult to the British people”.
He warned that 341,000 households that would benefit from the changes were “foreign-born”.
Mr Yusuf claimed that Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Nigerians and Somalis were among those who benefited from the welfare splurge.
The policy, first introduced by the Conservatives in 2017, restricted child tax credit and universal credit (UC) to the first two children in most households.
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Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the cap would be lifted on April 6 when she unveiled the budget in November, following months of pressure from Labor supporters.
Zia Yusuf, Reform’s home affairs spokesman, said: “Labour boasts today of having removed the 2-child benefit cap.
“The biggest winners are foreign families; the biggest losers are British taxpayers.
“One third of the 341 thousand households with 3 or more children are foreign-born.
“191 thousand of these came from just 10 countries.
“Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nigeria and Somalia are at the top of the list and 125 thousand families from these countries will now benefit from the huge increase in social assistance benefits.
“This is a disgusting insult to the British people.”
He added: “Like much of the British state, this is a brazen transfer of wealth from British taxpayers to foreign nationals. Reform will put an end to this.”
The Prime Minister claimed this was one of a number of steps the Government was taking at a time when there was greater focus on cost-of-living pressures caused by the war in Iran.
Sir Keir said: “Whatever the global uncertainty, my Government will always stand with the British people in reducing the cost of living.
“I will never lose sight of how uneasy people are about change, and I am proud that today we have lifted almost half a million children out of poverty, increased support for retirees and delivered the biggest improvement in workers’ rights in a generation.”
He added: “I know families up and down the country are worried about the conflict in Iran and what this means for the cost of living.
“We are working closely with international partners to reduce tensions in the Middle East and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“This is the most effective way to relieve pressure on the cost of living.
“I am confident that our response to the current global situation will define us for a generation, so we are making the right long-term decisions now to ensure we emerge from this a stronger, more secure nation.”
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said the decision to lift the cap meant the Government was favoring benefit claimants over working people.
Ms Badenoch said: “As working people struggle with rising fuel costs and food prices, Keir Starmer is handing out another round of aid to those on benefits.
“The Conservatives believe in fairness and that those on benefits should make the same choices about their families as those who are not. That is why we will reintroduce the two-child limit and use our savings to support our armed forces.
“In an increasingly dangerous world we need to prioritize, and my plans will deliver a stronger economy and a stronger country.”
