WE'RE SCARED TO SPEAK OUT

Monica Lennon claims members fear Starmer axe as she slams two-child benefit cap policy

- ANDREW QUINN

A SCOTTISH Labour MSP has slammed Sir Keir Starmer after he said Labour was not committed to scrapping the two-child benefit cap.

Former Scottish Labour leadership hopeful Monica Lennon branded the policy "abhorrent" and called for party colleagues to speak out.

She also claimed that party members are frightened of being axed if they criticise the leadership.

UK Labour leader Starmer yesterday said it was not party policy to scrap the cap.

It came after Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Jonathan Ashworth called the cap "heinous" and suggested the party would scrap it. The policy means households with more than two children where universal credit or child tax credit is claimed no longer receive additional funds.