THE government has successfully appealed against a ruling that its “cruel” benefit cap unlawfully discriminates against lone parents with children under the age of two.

The Court of Appeal overturned an earlier ruling by a two-to-one majority today, with Sir Brian Leveson saying that the families had been granted permission to appeal to the Supreme Court.

Rebekah Carrier, the families’ lawyer, said the reference to the Supreme Court was a recognition of the case’s importance.