Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill: Third Reading
361
Ayes
—
84
Noes
Passed · Government won
199 did not vote
Analysis
Commons
Commons
Parliament voted on 23 February 2026 to pass the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Bill at its Third Reading -- the final stage before a bill moves to the House of Lords. The result was 361 votes in favour to 84 against, sending the bill forward with a substantial majority. The legislation removes the rule, introduced in 2017, that restricts Universal Credit payments to a maximum of two children per household, meaning families with three or more children currently receive no additional support for their third or subsequent child. The practical effect of the bill is significant. The government estimates that two million children stand to benefit from the change, which is due to come into force from April 2026. Combined with other measures in the government's child poverty strategy, ministers say the bill will lift more than half a million children out of poverty by the end of the decade. The bill also extends the removal of the two-child limit to Northern Ireland, included at the request of the Northern Ireland Executive, which is bringing forward a legislative consent motion. The vote divided almost entirely along party lines. All voting Labour, Labour and Co-operative, Liberal Democrat, SNP, Plaid Cymru, DUP, Green and SDLP members supported the bill. Eighty-three of the 84 votes against came from Conservative MPs, with 33 Conservatives absent. There were no Labour rebels. The bill passed its Second Reading on 3 February 2026 by a wider margin of 458 to 104, and this Third Reading result reflects a slightly smaller house, with more absences across the board.
Voting Aye meant
Support removing the two-child benefit cap so that all children in low-income families receive equal Universal Credit entitlements, reducing child poverty
Voting No meant
Oppose removing the two-child limit, likely citing fiscal cost concerns or preference for keeping existing welfare constraints
445 voting MPs. Each dot is one vote; left-to-right by party. Grey dots in the centre are the 199 who did not vote.
Aye
No
Absent
Labour PartyWhipped Aye
259
0
103
Conservative and Unionist PartyWhipped No
0
83
33
Liberal DemocratsWhipped Aye
53
0
19
Labour and Co-operative PartyWhipped Aye
27
0
15
Independent
5
1
7
Scottish National PartyWhipped Aye
6
0
3
Reform UK
0
2
6
Sinn Féin
0
0
7
Democratic Unionist PartyWhipped Aye
3
0
2
Green Party of England and WalesWhipped Aye
3
0
1
Plaid CymruWhipped Aye
4
0
—
Social Democratic and Labour Party
2
0
—
Alliance Party of Northern Ireland
0
0
1
Speaker
0
0
1
Traditional Unionist Voice
0
0
1
Ulster Unionist Party
1
0
—
Your Party
1
0
—
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