News

Child poverty warning as Reform and Conservatives oppose Labour plans to scrap two-child limit

Published

5 months ago

January 13, 2026

More than 69,000 children in Wales could be affected as parties clash over benefit policy

A sharp political divide has emerged over child poverty, with Reform UK and the Conservatives opposing Labour’s move to scrap the two-child benefit limit – a policy Labour says is pushing working families and children into poverty.

As legislation to remove the two-child limit is introduced to Parliament, Labour has warned that the position taken by Reform UK and the Conservatives risks forcing more than 69,000 children and around 19,000 working families in Wales back into poverty.

The Conservatives have said they would reintroduce the two-child limit in full, while Reform UK has indicated it would restore the policy for more than 99 per cent of households affected, exempting only families where both parents are in full-time work – most of whom are not currently subject to the limit.

The two-child limit prevents families from receiving additional benefits when they have a third or subsequent child. In Wales, just over 19,000 families are affected, many of them in work but struggling on low incomes.

Labour says new analysis shows that scrapping the limit would benefit more than 69,000 children across Wales and forms a central part of its approach to tackling child poverty and the cost-of-living crisis. By contrast, Labour has accused Reform UK and the Conservatives of pursuing policies that would deepen poverty and reverse recent progress.

In Pembrokeshire, hundreds of families are currently affected by the two-child limit, with Labour representatives warning that the policy disproportionately impacts households in rural areas, where wages are often lower and the cost of essentials such as transport, food and energy is higher. Labour argues that removing the limit would provide direct financial support to working families in the county who are already under financial pressure.

Figures show that the majority of families affected by the two-child limit include at least one working parent, a point Labour says undermines claims that the policy targets those who are not in work.

Eluned Morgan, the First Minister of Wales, said: “The cruel and unfair two-child limit imposed by the Tories has hit the incomes of people in some of our most vulnerable communities in Wales. We in Welsh Labour have relentlessly called for it to be scrapped. We now see from today’s figures, the real positive impact of the UK Government’s action and also the benefit of two Labour governments working together to help tackle child poverty.

“While your two Labour governments are putting more money in families’ pockets, Reform and the Tories would plunge 450,000 children across the UK back into poverty by reimplementing the policy, punishing parents for working hard.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: “This Labour Government came into office pledging to tackle child poverty and that’s exactly what we’re doing.

“I’m proud that Labour is scrapping the cruel two-child limit. It’s a policy that has imposed hardship on the children of parents who go out to work to provide as much as they can for their families.

“Because of Labour’s action, 19,000 families in Wales will have more money in their pockets, with 69,000 more children growing up in households with the means to meet their needs.

“The Reform-Tory Child Poverty Pact would wipe out this progress. It is a plan to punish parents who work hard and do the right thing, and it would plunge hundreds of thousands back into poverty.”

Labour says its wider Child Poverty Strategy, which includes expanding free school meals, cutting energy bills, extending childcare provision and increasing the national living wage — is expected to lift 550,000 children out of poverty across the UK by 2030, a figure it says represents the largest reduction in a single parliamentary term.

News

Milford Haven to launch Inaugural Harbour Festival this June

Published

1 hour ago

June 8, 2026

Cerys Lafferty

MILFORD WATERFRONT is set to welcome visitors to its first-ever Harbour Fest on June 27, with a day-long celebration of the area’s rich maritime heritage, local businesses and coastal community.

The free festival, running from 10am to 6pm, will transform the waterfront into a vibrant hub of activity, featuring live music, entertainment, food and family-friendly attractions. Organisers say the event aims to showcase the unique character of Milford Haven while celebrating the start of the summer season.

Visitors can enjoy a packed programme of heritage and maritime-themed activities alongside contributions from many of Milford Waterfront’s independent businesses. Chocolatiers, artisan makers, galleries, museums and a range of attractions both on and off the water will take part in the festivities, highlighting the diversity of the destination.

Harbour Fest is expected to draw residents and tourists alike, offering an opportunity to explore the waterfront, support local businesses and experience the area’s strong connection to the sea.

For those wishing to make a weekend of the event, Tŷ Hotel Milford Waterfront is offering accommodation overlooking the marina. Bed and breakfast stays start from £108 per night for two people sharing, while family rooms for four are available from £193 per night.

Further information about Harbour Fest can be found at Milford Waterfront’s website.

Crime

Kebab firm fined £500,000 after ‘lamb’ found to be mostly skin and fat

Published

11 hours ago

June 8, 2026

Court Reporter

A KEBAB manufacturer has been fined £500,000 after a court heard products sold as lamb contained little actual lamb and were instead made up largely of skin, fat and other meats.

Kismet Kebabs Ltd, based in Chelmsford, Essex, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court after previously admitting fraud by false representation.

***The court heard invoices showed products that “cannot be called meat as per the legal definition” were being used to produce kebabs***

The company was also ordered to pay £259,298 in costs.

The case was brought following an investigation led by Swansea Council’s trading standards team, which found products supplied to takeaways and restaurants did not match the meat content declared on their labels.

***The judge said the firm had engaged in “considerable dishonesty”***

Prosecutor Lee Reynolds told the court the firm had misled wholesalers, retailers and customers over a prolonged period.

He said products described as lamb contained a mixture of fat, skin, goat, mutton, mechanically reclaimed meat and other lower-grade products.

In one example, a lamb doner labelled as containing 87% lamb was found to contain only 51% meat and 40% fat.

The investigation began after trading standards officers carried out sampling at kebab houses and restaurants in late 2020 and early 2021.

**The company purchased a “large volume of fat” to put in its products**

Further testing at wholesalers found major differences between what was stated on labels and what the products actually contained.

Officers later visited Kismet’s factory in Chelmsford, where concerns were raised about production, packaging and labelling.

The court heard invoices showed the firm was buying very little lamb, but large quantities of skin, fat, goat and other products.

***Invoices showed products that “cannot be called meat as per the legal definition” were being used***

Kismet’s barrister, Stuart Jessop, said the firm had operated successfully for many years and had since made significant changes. He said the company had “taken its eye off the ball” at the time of the offending, but argued that forcing it out of business would benefit nobody.

Judge Huw Rees said fraudulent activity had been “endemic” at the company and described the dishonesty as considerable and prolonged.

The company has been given four years to pay the fine and costs.

Community

HMS Erebus exhibition opens as Pembroke Dock marks 200-year milestone

Published

12 hours ago

June 7, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK HERITAGE CENTRE has marked the 200th anniversary of the launch of HMS Erebus with a special event celebrating one of the town’s most remarkable maritime stories.

HMS Erebus was built at the Royal Dockyard in Pembroke Dock and launched on June 7, 1826, before going on to become one of the most famous exploration vessels of the 19th century.

The ship later took part in major polar expeditions, including voyages to Antarctica, before being lost during Sir John Franklin’s doomed Arctic expedition. Its wreck was discovered in Canadian waters in 2014, reigniting worldwide interest in the vessel and its Pembrokeshire origins.

The anniversary event was attended by supporters, volunteers and visitors, with music from folk trio Broadoak and a presentation by Professor Russell Potter on the ship’s extraordinary career.

The Heritage Centre thanked everyone who helped make the event possible, including its volunteers, catering team, musicians and guest of honour Professor Potter.