A Scotland Office Minister has defended the UK Government 's decision not to scrap the two-child benefit cap earlier under Labour.

Kirsty McNeill said it would have been the "worst decision" to remove the benefit limit too soon despite pre-election pledges from Labour.

A political row has emerged between the Scottish and UK Government over the timing of the decision and over who takes credit.

Seven Labour MPs were suspended in July last year, weeks after Labour took office, for voting against the government on an amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap, which prevents most parents from claiming Universal Credit of child tax credit for a third child.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced at the UK budget on November 26 that the government would lift the cap in its entirety in Apri

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