Exclusive: Labour War Of Words As Phillipson And Powell Clash Over 2-Child Benefit Cap

<div><img src="https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/68c2ec79180000f9488c7b06.jpeg?ops=scalefit_630_noupscale" alt="Bridget Phillipson will go head-to-head with Lucy Powell" data-caption="Bridget Phillipson will go head-to-head with Lucy Powell" data-credit-link-back="" data-credit="AP" />Bridget Phillipson will go head-to-head with Lucy Powell</div><div class="content-list-component text"><p>A fresh war of words has erupted in the <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/labour-party/">Labour </a>deputy leadership race over moves to scrap the two-child benefit cap.</p><p>Education secretary <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/bridget-phillipson/">Bridget Phillipson</a> took a swipe at her rival <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/lucy-powell/">Lucy Powell </a>as she urged <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/news/rachel-reeves/">Rachel Reeves </a>to scrap the hated Tory policy.</p><p>HuffPost UK <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/exclusive-labour-war-of-words-as-phillipson-and-powell-clash-over-2-child-benefit-cap_uk_68eb8553e4b0abf20b6b0c14">revealed last month </a>that Keir Starmer has already decided to scrap the cap, with the chancellor preparing to announce it <a href="https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/exclusive-budget-set-to-take-place-on-november-26_uk_68b71aefe4b0ebb9e3c84f2e">when she delivers her Budget on November 26</a>.</p><p>Phillipson said that she, rather than Powell, had been leading moves inside government to tackle child poverty.</p><p>On Sky News, Phillipson repeatedly stressed that she could put pressure on the chancellor to scrap the benefit cap from inside government – a clear reference to the fact that Powell is no longer in th