15K KIDS OUT OF POVERTY

Robison announces cruel two-child cap will be scrapped | £2billion extra for NHS. Income tax will remain the same | But Lib Dems and Greens withhold support at this stage

- PAUL HUTCHEON

THE SNP has promised to lift 15,000 kids out of poverty by ending the hated two-child benefit cap.

In a dramatic Budget announcement, Finance Secretary Shona Robison said the benefit limit would be abolished in the year of the Holyrood election.

She said: "Be in no doubt that the cap will be scrapped."

The Budget was John Swinney's first since he took over this year from Humza Yousaf, citing child poverty as his top priority.

The cap, which applies to some means-tested benefits, was introduced by the Tory government and is being retained by Keir Starmer's administration.

Critics say the curb harms kids and fuels child poverty levels.

Addressing MSPs, Robison expressed frustration with Labour for keeping the cap and pledged to axe it.

She said: "Let me be crystal clear, this government is to end the two-child cap and in doing so will lift over 15,000 Scottish children out of poverty."

She said implementing the move would require "co-operation" from Whitehall, adding that the SNP will work to ensure payments are made in 2026.

Mitigating the two-child cap is forecast to cost about £150million in 2026-27.

She also confirmed the Scottish Government would dump Labour's policy of slashing the Winter Fuel Payment.

Robison had extra resources available to her for the Budget after a £3.4billion cash injection from Westminster.

As revealed by the Record, she announced that the previous year's affordable housing cuts by Yousaf would be reversed.