Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Third Reading
361Ayes
84Noes
Carried · majority 277 · Government won199 did not vote
644 Members · Aye 361 · No 84 · DNV 199 · grey dots in centre are abstentions
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament passed the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill at Third Reading on 23 February 2026 by 361 votes to 84. The Bill repeals the rule, introduced in April 2017, that limits the child element of Universal Credit to a maximum of two children per household. From assessment periods starting on or after 6 April 2026, families will receive a UC child element for every child regardless of family size. The change affects the benefit entitlements of larger families across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The government estimates that 560,000 children will have their UC award increased as a result, with the measure projected to lift over half a million children out of poverty. The Treasury costing puts the annual expense at £3.0 billion by 2029/30. Party lines held almost entirely. All 286 Labour and Labour and Co-operative MPs who voted backed the Bill, as did all 53 Liberal Democrats and all four Plaid Cymru members who voted. The Greens, SNP members present, and three Democratic Unionist Party MPs also voted in favour. All 83 Conservative MPs who voted opposed the Bill; one independent voted against and four voted for. The Bill had already passed Second Reading on 3 February 2026 by 458 votes to 104, and the Conservatives had tabled a new clause in committee on the same day requiring an impact assessment of households also subject to the overall benefit cap, which was defeated by 256 to 73.
Voting Aye meant
Support removing the two-child limit on Universal Credit, lifting benefit support for larger families and reducing child poverty
Voting No meant
Oppose removing the two-child limit, citing the £3 billion annual cost or concerns about the policy's design and impact
Each row is one party. The stacked bar gives the within-party split of Aye / No / Absent; the columns on the right give the raw counts. The whip column shows the published party position — “Free vote” means the whip was formally removed for this division.
Party
Whip
Aye / No / Abs
Aye
No
Abs
Labour Party
Whipped Aye
259
0
102
Conservative and Unionist Party
Whipped No
0
83
33
Liberal Democrats
Whipped Aye
53
0
18
Labour and Co-operative Party
Whipped Aye
27
0
15
Independent
—
4
1
8
Scottish National Party
Whipped Aye
6
0
3
Reform UK
—
0
2
6
Sinn Féin
—
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist Party
Whipped Aye
3
0
2
Green Party of England and Wales
Whipped Aye
3
0
1
Plaid Cymru
Whipped Aye
4
0
0
Social Democratic and Labour Party
—
2
0
0
Your Party
—
2
0
0
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
—
0
0
1
Restore Britain
—
0
0
1
Speaker
—
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
—
0
0
1
Ulster Unionist Party
—
1
0
0
Source · Hansard · UK Parliament Votes API · whip status from announced positions; “free vote” indicates the whip was formally removed
The Bill removes the two-child limit from April 2026, lifting 450,000 children out of poverty and investing in Britain's future; it is the most cost-effective lever available to tackle structural child poverty.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (3,064 words) →
The two-child limit reflects fairness and personal responsibility; removing it is fiscally irresponsible at £3.5bn cost, undermines work incentives, and unfairly burdens working families who must make tough decisions about family size.Conservative · Voted no · Read full speech (2,367 words) →
Removing the two-child limit is essential and cost-effective; however, the benefit cap must also be removed to ensure gains are not clawed back and all 150,000 affected children truly escape poverty.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (782 words) →
The Bill is welcome but incomplete; removing the two-child limit while leaving the benefit cap in place leaves 150,000 children in poverty and echoes 19th-century Poor Law logic that punishes the vulnerable.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,452 words) →
The Bill is necessary but narrow; the benefit cap is equally cruel and should be scrapped simultaneously; the government must collect and publish detailed data on families left behind by this limited approach.Green · Voted aye · Read full speech (883 words) →
The removal of the two-child limit is vital, but 141,000 children will still be held back in poverty by the benefit cap; the government must urgently address the cap and commit to a minimum income guarantee.Labour · Voted aye · Read full speech (1,386 words) →
Removing the two-child limit in Northern Ireland will lift 50,000 children from poverty and 13,000 families to a better standard of living; it is the mark of a caring society to help those most in need.DUP · Voted aye · Read full speech (227 words) →
Removing the two-child limit is unquestionably right and will save families up to £5,000 per year; however, the Bill is narrow and must be accompanied by broader measures to address deep poverty and destitution.Liberal Democrat · Voted aye · Read full speech (808 words) →
Sources
Division dataUK Parliament Votes API
DebateHansard · Commons
Stance analysisAI analysis · Claude 4.x
LicenceOpen Parliament Licence v3.0