Lee Anderson mocks Starmer over child benefit row

       Lee Anderson mocked Sir Keir Starmer over Labour flip-flops during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) today.

       The Conservative Party deputy chairman asked when the Labour leader will "jump off the bandwagon and be honest with the British public and tell them what he stands for".

       Mr Ashfield's Commons intervention comes as Sir Keir has sparked fury from within his party after confirming he will keep the Tories' two-child benefit cap, having previously pledged to scrap it.

       The outspoken Ashfield MP asked the Prime Minister: "Just last week the Leader of the Opposition announced his new flagship policy the two-child benefit cap. Goes down very popular on this side of the House, but not so popular on that side.

       "But Prime Minister could you please tell the House, when will the Leader of the Opposition jump off the bandwagon and be honest with the British public and tell them what he stands for?"

       Lee Anderson mocked Sir Keir Starmer over Labour flip-flops during PMQs (Image: PA)

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       Mr Sunak replied: "My honourable friend is right. I welcome the Leader of the Opposition now supporting the Government's policy, but I don't think anyone actually believes that he believes in what he's saying."

       Sir Keir said he would axe the two-child benefit cap during his campaign to be Labour leader in 2020, but on Sunday confirmed it would not be ditched as he blamed the UK's dire economic situation.

       The policy, introduced by Conservative former chancellor George Osborne, prevents parents from claiming Universal Credit for any third or subsequent child.

       Elsewhere during PMQs, the SNP's Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said he could see a "shiver running along the Labour frontbench" at the suggestion the party would keep the two-child benefit cap if it came to power.

       Sir Keir Starmer's stance on the policy has prompted disquiet from some in his party (Image: PA)

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       He said: "Voters in Scotland are used to child poverty under the Tories, they almost expect it. But what they don't expect is child poverty support from the Labour Party. If we look very closely right now, there is a shiver running along the Labour frontbench.

       "For children living in poverty in Scotland, Westminster offers them no real change, it offers them no real hope."

       Mr Sunak responded: "The best route out of poverty is through work and the best way to ensure that children do not grow up in poverty is to ensure that they do not grow up in a workless household.

       "That is why we are focused on creating more jobs, with 200,000 more in Scotland since 2010 and hundreds of thousands fewer children across the United Kingdom, fewer growing up in workless households.

       "We will always continue to reduce child poverty. I don't want to see a single child grow up in poverty and we will deliver that in every part of the UK, including in Scotland."

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