Ready for change: public support for action on child poverty

Earlier today, I hit send on a briefing paper to MPs and other key decision makers on new polling we commissioned on child poverty. I thought I’d share the key findings here too.

The bottom line:

• voters want action on child poverty
• opposition to scrapping the two child benefit has evaporated and has strong support amongst Labour voters
• the public overwhelmingly backs higher taxes on the huge profits of gambling companies to help kids in need

Understanding Public Opinion 

In August 2025 we commissioned polling from Survation to look at public attitudes around scrapping the two child benefit limit, funded by a new tax on gambling companies. 

Survation surveyed 8,546 members of the public on two questions:

1. Support for abolishing the two child limit as a means of reducing child poverty; and 
2. the extent to which the public back new taxes on gambling companies if the money was used to reduce child poverty. 

In July 2024, YouGov found by a whopping majority of 60-28, voters backed keeping the two child benefit cap in place. Our new polling from Survation shows that opposition to scrapping the cap has evaporated, with 33% wanting it scrapped and 34% saying keep in place.

The Voters Labour Needs Back Scrapping The Limit

Our research suggests that there is significantly higher levels of support from voters Labour need to target. In particular with abolishing the two child benefit limit, amongst those who voted Labour in 2024, support is +9 on the national average. 

Looking ahead, those who intend to vote Labour or are considering voting Labour have notably higher levels of support for abolishing the limit than the national average (+9 and +11, respectively). 

The numbers are just as compelling when you compare levels of support against those who support. As I say above, the national number for this measurement is -1 (33% support, 34% do not support.) Amongst Labour 24 voters, the number is +12, people intending to vote Labour at the next election +14, people considering voting Labour +17 and people who voted Labour in 2024 and now intend to vote Reform +2.

Tackling Child Poverty: Who Pays?

The debate over child benefits is a mixed picture. When it comes to how to pay for action on child poverty, things are a lot clearer. The public is very much in favour of increasing taxes on gambling companies who have reaped huge profits. 

A whopping 64% of the British public would support increasing taxes on gambling companies if the money was used to reduce child poverty, according to our polling. Only 14% of the public – or fewer than one in six people – oppose the idea.

But again certain key groups that Labour need to target demonstrate higher levels of support, especially 2024 Labour voters who are now looking elsewhere (80% support, +16 on the national average).

The Public Is Ready For Change

Ultimately, the two child limit should be scrapped for sound policy reasons – doing so is the most impactful way of cutting child poverty, and will make a meaningful difference to families, helping them with the cost of living a little.

But our research shows that if this move were to happen, it would have the support of voters who backed the government in the 2024 election.

The public have told us time and time again that they want to see big gambling companies who are raking in huge profits pay their fair share. Rachel Reeves’ Autumn budget is the chance to make sure that they are finally forced to pay up. 

Undoing the Conservative government’s two-child benefit cap with the money raised should be a no-brainer for a Labour government who say they’re focused on child poverty. It’s both the quickest and most cost effective way to lift hundreds of thousands of kids out of poverty, and give them the start in life that they deserve.