The provided HTML and text describe an incident where the Minister for Employment and Pensions, Liz Kendall, faced frustration from broadcasters during media interviews regarding the government’s two-child benefit limit.The provided HTML and text describe an incident where the Minister for Employment and Pensions, Liz Kendall, faced frustration from broadcasters during media interviews regarding the government’s two-child benefit limit. Image and Caption: The HTML includes a “ and “ element, which together display a picture and caption. The image shows Liz Kendall with the caption: > “The Minister of Employment and Pensions this morning caused frustration among broadcasters over the two-year limit on child benefit BBC Breakfast” Text: The text provides a narrative of the interviews: * On BBC Breakfast, Kendall repeatedly clashes with presenter Jon Kay, who questions the government’s decision to maintain the benefit cap despite criticism from Conservative MPs. Kay accuses Kendall of making excuses and interrupting, while Kendall defends her position, citing the impact of child poverty and the need for the government to prioritize other issues. * On Sky News, Kendall acknowledges that addressing the benefit cap is a “priority” but emphasizes that the government will only take action if it can secure funding. She also mentions the establishment of a task force and policy unit to tackle child poverty. * On Times Radio, Kendall expresses her passion for reducing child poverty but stresses that she will not make promises without considering the financial implications. Overall, the HTML and text illustrate the challenges faced by government officials when confronted with complex policy issues and public pressure to address them.
The Minister of Employment and Pensions this morning caused frustration among broadcasters over the two-year limit on child benefit BBC Breakfast
The Minister for Employment and Pensions frustrated broadcasters today during her morning round of the media, as they repeatedly asked direct questions about the maximum two-child benefit.
Liz Kendall tried the from the government controversial decision not to abolish the threshold that prohibits parents from applying for benefits for their third child, but repeatedly led to conflicts with the applicants.
On BBC BreakfastPresenter Jon Kay began: “Can we just get some clarity on the cap on child benefit for two children, because it was a Conservative policy that the Conservatives introduced –”
“We voted against that,” Kendall interrupted.
Kay said: “Okay, but now the Conservative has its own MP Suella Braverman said we had to get rid of it –”
Kendall interrupted, “Well, that’s a bit of an exaggeration considering she’s been part of a government for 14 years that has actually thrown children into poverty. Forgive me for not taking her word for it.”
Kay ignored that and continued to name the MPs in the House who want the policy abolished.
He said keeping it was a “political choice” and Work could get rid of it now if they wanted to.
Kendall responded, “Look, I don’t need to hear from anyone about the impact of child poverty.
“I have a third of children in my city, Leicester, growing up in poverty. I have led Feeding Leicester – the programme to end child poverty in my city – but I have also seen people die waiting for NHS treatment, my municipal budget cut by a third, the appalling state of housing in this country.”
She said Labour could not change everything overnight after having a “miserable legacy” of the Tories.
When Kay started to question her about other issues – such as the WASPI campaigners against pension inequality or carers’ pay – Kendall said: “You’re listing all the problems they’ve left us with, and it’s really serious.”
Kay interrupted her and threw his hands in the air, saying: “Okay, but now you’ve got the job, you’re in government – how long can you keep blaming the Conservatives and saying we’ll get there in time?”
Kendall only said it “will take time.”
When asked if she felt frustrated, the minister admitted she did feel “frustrated” that the Tories “have left this country in such a mess”.
On Sky NewsKendall said tackling the cap was a “priority” but the government would only take action if it knew it could fund changes.
She said a new task force within the government and a new policy unit within the cabinet have been established to focus on tackling child poverty.
“I know you want us to make arrangements now,” Kendall said, but host Kay Burley interrupted her and said, “I don’t have two kids, I don’t care.
“It doesn’t affect me, it does affect a lot of my positions, which is that it would be very easy for you to say, ‘We’re going to abolish that.’”
Kendall just said there is a “huge range of problems” that government needs to solve.
And on Times Radio, Kendall said she is “absolutely passionate about reducing child poverty”.
She added: ‘I’m not into the wink and nudge politics.
“You know I’m not going to look voters in the eye and tell them I’m going to do something without doing the math.”
Presenter Rosie Wright said: “It sounds like you’re saying you would do it if you could afford it, but you can’t now.”
Kendall said, “Well, like I said, I’m not going to wink at you and give you a nudge here, I know that would be the easiest thing!”
Wright hits back: “I don’t want a wink or a nudge!”
