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Jeremy Corbyn has been running a local campaign against the two-child benefits cap in a fresh sign that he could stand against Labour in his constituency at the next election.
i has seen leaflets distributed on behalf of the now-independent MP for Islington North, in which he calls for the limit to be scrapped.
It stands in contrast to Labour policy after Sir Keir Starmer in July confirmed the party in government would not immediately repeal the two-child benefit cap introduced by former Conservative chancellor George Osborne as part of his austerity programme.
Mr Corbyn, who remains a member of the Labour Party but sits as an independent after losing the whip in the wake of anti-Semitism rows, has been told he will not be able to stand for Labour in his Islington North constituency at the general election.
Last month, the former Labour leader said he would “have a think about” standing for election as an independent mayor of London.
His local campaigning against Labour policy suggests the 74-year-old may also be considering standing as an independent in his seat in the general election next year.
Asked about the leaflets, Mr Corbyn told i: “The 2-child benefits cap is cruel and immoral. It should be scrapped immediately.
“I want my constituents to know that I’m fighting on their behalf for an alternative to austerity, and a society where no child grows up in poverty.
“That’s what I’ve been doing since I was first elected by the people of Islington North in 1983, and that is what I’ll continue to do.”
The two-child limit, announced in 2015 and which came into effect in 2017, bars parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for any third or subsequent child born after April 2017.
It was designed to reduce public spending and encourage families to make decisions based on their financial circumstances, but has been criticised for penalising larger families and driving up child poverty rates.
In an interview with i Jon Ashworth, Labour’s shadow welfare secretary said in government his party would tackle child poverty as a priority.
“This next Labour Government will have a cross departmental child poverty strategy, where we will confront the fundamental drivers of child poverty, which is a big commitment that we are making., he said.