Exclusive:Social justice secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville to make London lobbying visit on Labour's two-child cap

Ahead of the UK Budget, the cabinet secretary for social justice is expected to meet third sector leaders and her UK counterparts in a move designed to push Labour to U-turn on the controversial policy.

Ms Somerville announced at last year’s Scottish budget that the SNP would mitigate the two-child cap.

Insiders said the SNP MSP is “pushing at an open door”.

The move comes as Sir Keir Starmer gave the clearest signal yet that Labour will U-turn on the two-child cap, saying on Tuesday he is “personally committed to driving down child poverty”.

Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, also signalled a policy change is imminent, when she said at the weekend that children in large families are being "penalised" through "no fault of their own”.

Ms Somerville said there should have been increased urgency in communication from Labour to the Scottish Government.

“The Scottish Government has consistently called on the UK Government to end the two-child limit – which pulls 109 children into poverty every day – and the punitive benefit cap,” she said.

While any Labour U-turn will bring a windfall to the government coffers, it causes a headache for the Scottish Government.

A team of civil servants and government lawyers has been working for months to draft legislation to allow the benefit to be paid.

It is understood the regulations for Social Security Scotland’s Two Child Limit Payment are scheduled to be laid before parliament the week of the UK Budget.

Referring to the delay in communication, the cabinet secretary added: “This isn’t good enough - it is vital that the UK Government let us know their plans in relation to the two-child limit at the first available opportunity.”

The Two Child Limit Payment is expected to begin accepting applications in March next year.

This will be the fastest that a Scottish social security benefit has been delivered since the partial devolution of the welfare system.

Ms Somerville added: “This builds upon the considerable action we have taken in Scotland, including delivering unparalleled financial support through our Scottish Child Payment, investing to clear school meal debts, and continuing to support almost 10,000 children by mitigating the UK Government’s Benefit Cap as fully as possible.

“If the UK Government do the right thing and abolish the two-child limit, we are committed to reinvesting mitigation spend into further ambitious measures to tackle child poverty.”

The two-child limit on working-age benefits was introduced under the Conservatives in 2017 but Labour had consistently said it would not reverse the cap, causing ire among backbenchers.

Some Labour MPs have been calling for a full reversal of the policy although it has been suggested Ms Reeves is looking at tapering payments for the third and subsequent children.

On Tuesday, the Chancellor stopped just short of confirming the government plans to break Labour's manifesto pledge not to raise income tax rates, VAT or National Insurance.

"It would of course be possible to stick with the manifesto commitments. But that would require things like deep cuts in capital spending," she told the BBC.

"What I can promise now is I will always do what I think is right for our country.”

Ms Somerville announced at last year’s Scottish budget that the SNP would mitigate the two-child limit for Scots in a politically charged “rabbit from the hat” spending decision.

“Austerity decisions taken by the UK Government are holding back Scotland’s progress,” Ms Somerville added.

“Modelling published in March makes clear that if the UK Government act decisively on child poverty, they could help to take an estimated 100,000 children out of poverty this year.”

Labour has been contacted for comment.