Overview

• Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who co-chairs the child poverty taskforce, called the cap "spiteful" and said removing it is under consideration.
• Social security minister Stephen Timms said the cap’s future will be addressed in the strategy to be published before year-end.
• Government figures show the policy affects about 1.7 million children, and officials estimate abolition would cost roughly £3.5bn a year.
• Both deputy leadership contenders have urged action, while Keir Starmer has not committed to abolition but has declined to rule it out.
• Ministers are reviewing gambling taxes before the 26 November Budget after Gordon Brown suggested using that revenue to fund removal of the cap.