As for everyone attacking @joepowell.bsky.social over being bald; grow up. If you want to have a serious debate over the politics the first step is to talk about policy, not appearance. 10/10

As such, the only place where the gov could announce such a policy would be at the Budget. Coincidentally, Polanski would be elected Green Leader just a few months earlier. As I hope I have demonstrated, the Gov was already very much decided well before Polanski began talking about it.

Although specifics aren't available, it appears that the gov consensus by autumn was that the cap was going to go, seen here: www.bbc.com/news/article...

However, it seems to be that No 10 were waiting on the Child Poverty Task Force to first report on their recommendations, just as much policy usually goes through committees. See here: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli...

Per the Independent, lifting the cap has been on the Gov's book since at least this Feb, if not earlier. See here: www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/poli... 6/?

Next, there's also the whole "it taking 18 months" which is a perfectly reasonable criticism but has, in my view, and good justification 5/?

Very simply, Labour MPs couldn't vote for the amendment whilst also claiming to have confidence in the gov; thats why the rebels (officially) lost the whip. It's better see this amendment as less of genuine call for action on child poverty from the SNP and more so as shenanigans, at least in my view

Thing is, ammendments to the King's Speech are confidence matters, meaning that if the gov lost the vote they would have to resign or (more likely) call a GE. See here for more details: www.hansardsociety.org.uk/publications...

Firs, about Labour MPs voting against lifting cap last July. This is in reference to the SNP ammendments to the 2024 King's Speech, which proposed to abolish the Two Child Benefit limit 2/?

For balance, I am duty-bound to include this actual certified banger of a joke from Mark Drayford from that same conference.