Debbie Abrahams MP, Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on the benefit cap statistics released by the Department for Work and Pensions today, said:

“It is deeply concerning that nearly 70,000 families are now being affected by the Tories’ benefit cap. 

“Seven in every ten of those are single parent families, struggling to give their children the best life chances in the face of falling real wages, the spiralling cost of essentials and inflexible, low quality childcare.

“The courts recently ruled that a benefit cap was discriminatory and unlawful for nearly 30,000 families with children under two. Often these are women fleeing domestic violence.

“Labour has stood against the reduction of the benefit cap. We will transform the social security system so that, like the NHS, it is there for us all in our time of need.”