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A majority think that child benefit should be limited – with capping child benefits and tax credits at two children the most popular option
In an editorial piece for the Mail on Sunday, Conservative MP Nadhim Zahawi put forward a proposal to cap child benefit and child tax credits at two children, coming into effect for children born after 2015. Zahawi claimed the policy would “save billions and help the next generation think more carefully about their relationship with the welfare state". The policy was widely panned by children's charities and poverty campaigners and David Cameron distanced himself from the policy - insisting it was “not government policy and is not supported by the Prime Minister”.
Despite Cameron's reservations, YouGov research shows strong support for capping child benefit, with two children the most popular option
There is strong support for the principle of the cap - 63% feel that families should only receive benefits for up to a certain number of children, compared to 23% that feel families should receive child benefit regardless of the number of children they have. A further 8% go even further – saying no one should receive child benefit at all and 6% don't know.
Of those who feel there should be a cap, limiting it to two children is the most popular choice (42%), followed by three children (37%). A further 15% feel it should be capped at four children and 3% after just one.
On the specific policy put forward by Zahawi there is broad support from the public. A majority (56%) support capping child benefit and tax credits at two children, 33% oppose it and 11% don’t know.
According to the Daily Mail, under the proposed policy a family with three children and a combined income of £30,000 would lose £3,412 in child tax credits and child benefits.
Image: Getty
See the full poll results