The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, has denounced the two-child benefit cap as "cruel," urging both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer to pledge to eliminate it.

Welby asserted that the cap is "neither moral nor necessary" and does not align with societal values.

While Prime Minister Sunak has vowed to maintain the policy if the Conservative Party retains power after the general election, Sir Keir has thus far resisted calls to abolish it, despite asserting that addressing child poverty is a cornerstone of his government plans.

Introduced in 2017, the cap restricts child tax credit and universal credit to the initial two children in most households.

Speaking to the media the Archbishop emphasized, "The two-child limit falls short of our values as a society. It denies the truth that all children are of equal and immeasurable worth, and will have an impact on their long-term health, wellbeing, and educational outcomes."

The Archbishop's remarks are likely to intensify pressure on Sir Keir to take action if Labour assumes power.

Sir Keir faced scrutiny over his stance when he unveiled Labour's "first steps" plan on Thursday. While he underscored that addressing child poverty was "central to an incoming Labour government," he also cautioned against making promises that couldn't be fulfilled.

However, the Archbishop of Canterbury countered, stating, "This cruel policy is neither moral nor necessary. We are a country that can and should provide for those most in need, following the example of Jesus Christ, who served the poorest in society. As a meaningful step towards ending poverty, and recognizing the growing concern across the political spectrum, I urge all parties to commit to abolishing the two-child limit."