On Tuesday 3 February 2026, the Universal Credit (Removal of Two-Child Limit) Bill had its Second Reading in the House of Commons.

The previous Government introduced the two-child limit on Universal Credit (UC). Its effect was to push more children into poverty. From 2010, the number of children in poverty rose by 900,000, reaching 4.5 million in 2024.

This Bill will lift 450,000 children out of poverty by abolishing the two-child limit. This is being funded responsibly through a combination of savings from fraud and error in the benefits system, changes to the Motability scheme and reform of online gambling taxation.

Removing the two-child limit is the single most effective and immediate way to reduce child poverty. It will make sure the social security system is there for those who need it, even when circumstances change, and, importantly, the majority of children who will benefit live in working households.


The Bill passed its second reading: Ayes 458, Noes 104. It will now be discussed in a Committee of the Whole House.

A group of organisations, comprising of Global Witness, Tax Justice UK, Oxfam, Greenpeace, War on Want, the Center for Economic and Social Rights, and Amnesty International, held a drop-in event in Parliament on 3 February 2026 to draw attention to  "Why the UK Government must support the the UN Tax Convention" (UNTC). 

The UNTC is an opportunity offering new hope for global tax cooperation, climate finance and sustainable development, through building a just, sustainable and democratic global tax system. It is a crucial opportunity for the UK to raise billions in revenue, and reinstate its role and responsibility as a global leader in tackling international tax abuse.

It could help countries - particularly but not exclusively in the Global South - to reduce debt and reliance on aid, and curb illicit financial flows that deplete public resources, enabling more sustainable development.

The UK Government has shown ambition in some areas relating to the Convention, while there is no progress in others, The Groups say the UNTC process has not received the political scrutiny it deserves, with no involvement from parliament on a major treaty on the future of global tax. The fourth of nine rounds of negotiations (INC4) is taking place in New York in February 2026.

 

The Office of Rail and Road Regulation (ORR) is responsible for holding Network Rail and National Highways to account ensuring they deliver significant investments to improve our national infrastructure. I met with Declan Collier who is the Chair of the ORR and I raised the issue of Bescot Stadium Station and the lack of progress on an accessible station.  Mr Collier agreed to raise the issue with Network Rail. I made the point that it is no use prioritising stations for funding for access on the measures of footfall if the station is inaccessible there would be fewer users.   

On other matters,  the Railways Bill continues its passage through Parliament and will establish GBR, a new publicly owned body, that will run and manage the tracks and trains for passengers and freight use every day. The Bill will also give passengers a powerful new voice with a Passenger Watchdog, and an enhanced role for devolved governments and England’s mayors to have a bigger say in how the railway is run in their regions.

GBR will take responsibility for the day-to-day operational delivery of the railways: from delivering services to setting timetables, managing access to the network and operating, maintaining, and renewing infrastructure.

 

The House of Commons considered the amendments from the House of Lords on the Bill on Monday 2 February 2026. The Bill will ratify the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction Agreement, signed by the UK in 2023, creating a legal mechanism to set up protected zones in areas beyond national jurisdiction, helping to protect marine life and habitats in parts of the ocean that have previously been vulnerable to overuse and exploitation.

The Agreement entered into force on 17 January 2026 having received enough signatories and ratifications internationally. Following the Royal Assent of the UK’s legislation and the necessary secondary legislation which follows, the UK will join those who have ratified the Agreement. UK Ministers intend to play a leading role at the first conference of the parties, which will take place at some point before 16 January 2027.

During the debate, MPs considered 12 Government amendments relating to devolution and the effective implementation of the BBNJ Agreement across the country. All 12 amendments were accepted.

The Government will lay two further pieces of secondary legislation. Once passed, the Government will ratify the Agreement formally at the United Nations. 

Following the 2 February 2026 statement from the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones MP, which shed new light on the relationship between Lord Mandelson and the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, the House of Commons debated an Opposition Motion on 4 February 2026.

The motion called on the Government to release documents covering the appointment of Mandelson as Ambassador to Washington in 2025. An agreement was reached on a Government amendment that all documents would be given to Parliament except those believed to impact on national security and the UK’s international relations. These would first be assessed by Parliament’s independent Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) which would determine whether they could be published.

"That an humble Address be presented to His Majesty, that he will be graciously pleased to give directions to require the Government to lay before this House all papers relating to Lord Mandelson’s appointment as His Majesty’s Ambassador to the United States of America, including but not confined to the Cabinet Office due diligence which was passed to Number 10, the Conflict of Interest Form Lord Mandelson provided to the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), material the FCDO and the Cabinet Office provided to UK Security Vetting about Lord Mandelson’s interests in relation to Global Counsel, including his work in relation to Russia and China, and his links to Jeffrey Epstein, papers for, and minutes of, meetings relating to the decision to appoint Lord Mandelson, electronic communications between the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff and Lord Mandelson, and between ministers and Lord Mandelson, in the six months prior to his appointment, minutes of meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers in the six months prior to his appointment, all information on Lord Mandelson provided to the Prime Minister prior to his assurance to this House on 10 September 2025 that ‘full due process was followed during this appointment’, electronic communications and minutes of all meetings between Lord Mandelson and ministers, Government officials and special advisers during his time as Ambassador, and the details of any payments made to Lord Mandelson on his departure as Ambassador and from the Civil Service except papers prejudicial to UK national security or international relations which shall instead be referred to the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament.”

More widely, I know the Prime Minister has called on all political parties to work with the Government to legislate for the removal of peers who bring the Lords into disrepute, like Mandelson. I hope other parties will respond positively to this proposal, which could help ensure better accountability for members of the House of Lords.