UK politics live: Minister says some benefit claimants ‘stealing from the state’ as Labour unveils crackdown
Government set to announce measures to get more than two million Britons back into work
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Your support makes all the difference.Employment minister Alison McGovern has said that some benefits claimants are “stealing from the state” as the government unveiled plans to bring more people into work and slash the country’s spiralling benefits bill.
Sir Keir Starmer is planning to replace the network of Jobcentres with a new National Jobs and Careers Service, while more NHS staff will be sent to areas with higher rates of joblessness.
Young people will be offered additional employment and training opportunities, including with the Premier League, the Royal Shakespeare Company and Channel Four, while extra powers will be handed to mayors to develop their own employment plans.
Ms McGovern has been on the media round discussing the government’s plans and said nobody should be claiming sickness benefit if they are not unwell.
She told Sky: “Unfortunately, people have stolen from the state, and we’re bringing forward proposals to deal with that.”
Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will announce the plans later today as part of wide-ranging reforms designed to tackle economic inactivity and deliver the government’s promise to bring more than two million people back into work.
‘Benefits bill to hit 26bn by end of Parliament’ - Kendall
Ms Kendall said the “benefits bill for sickness and disability is set to rise by £26bn by the end of this Parliament.
She said the Tories have failed “to create good jobs” or deliver on the NHS or reform welfare.
‘Fundamental reform is needed’ - Kendall
Ms Kendall told MPs that “nothing short of fundamental reform” is needed and that the employment rate has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, unlike our G7 counterparts.
She said a near 2.8 million people are out of work on long term sickness and almost 1 million young people not in education, employment or training.
Liz Kendall is here
The work and pensions secretary is now announcing the wide-ranging reforms designed to tackle economic inactivity and deliver the government’s promise to bring more than two million people back into work.
Irish leader’s gaffe blows election wide open and leaves Starmer facing Brexit reset setback
Sir Keir Starmer risks a blow to his pledge to reset relations with the European Union after Brexit amid fears one of his key allies could be ousted in Friday’s elections in Ireland.
The Labour prime minister has built a strong personal rapport with the Irish leader Simon Harris since his election in July.
But a new poll for the Irish Times suggests Mr Harris’ Fine Gael has slumped from first to third place – after a gaffe which has been compared to Gordon Brown’s 2010 ‘bigoted woman’ comments.
Kate Devlin reports
Irish leader’s gaffe blows election wide open as Starmer faces Brexit reset setback
Labour could be left reeling by result after Simon Harris’ party slumps in polls following gaffe compared to Gordon Brown’s 2010 ‘bigoted woman’ comments
Greater powers to be given to local mayors under Labour work plan
Working with the 12 metro mayors, Labour has pledged to invest £15 million and devolve power to local areas to create work plans tailored to local needs.
The government says this will deliver “real employment opportunities for people who know their communities best.” Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotheram said: “Devolution is already making a huge difference to people’s lives in the Liverpool City Region.
“We’ve helped thousands of people into work, created opportunities for young people through apprenticeships, and supported adults to gain the skills they need to thrive.
“That’s why I welcome the government’s plans to give Mayors more of the tools and resources we need to break down the barriers keeping people out of work.”
The Independent View: The government is right to move from tender to tough on welfare reform
Editorial: The already unpopular Starmer government will doubtless make more enemies during this process. But it needs to bite this bullet
The government is right to move from tender to tough on welfare reform
Editorial: The already unpopular Starmer government will doubtless make more enemies during this process. But it needs to bite this bullet
Russia expels UK diplomat
Russia has expelled a British diplomat, accusing him of espionage, the Interfax news agency cited Russia’s FSB security service as saying on Tuesday.
The TASS news agency cited Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that the ministry had summoned the British ambassador.
According to the FSB, the British diplomat was a replacement for one of six UK diplomats expelled in August, also on espionage charges. It said the diplomat had provided false information on his documents and carried out espionage and sabotage activities.
There was no immediate comment from Britain’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. The British embassy in Moscow did not respond to a request for comment.
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What is Labour’s ‘Youth Guarantee Scheme’?
Under Labour’s new plans, every 18- 21-year-old in England will be ensured access to an apprenticeship, training or education opportunities to boost their chance of securing work. This is what the party calls the ‘Youth Guarantee,’ a measure that was included in their manifesto.
The scheme comes as the most recent statistics show that 869,000 people aged 18 to 21 are not in education, employment or training. This represents 15 per cent of people in this age bracket, and the highest the figure has reached since the Covid pandemic.
As part of the guarantee scheme, partnerships with cultural or sporting organisations have been established to offer work or learning opportunities to young people. So far, these include the Premier League, Channel 4 and the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Alongside this, £45 million will be invested into eight youth “trailblazer” areas across the country to identify young people at risk of becoming inactive and providing them with opportunities.
But “in return for those new opportunities”, the DWP says, “young people will be expected to engage with training or work that’s on offer.”
Work and pensions secretary Liz Kendall has confirmed that this means those who don’t take up training or work opportunities will see their benefits sanctioned, including possibly losing them entirely.
Last asylum seekers living on the Bibby Stockholm set to leave
The last asylum seekers living on the Bibby Stockholm are set to leave the barge.
A group of eight remaining men will leave the accommodation moored in Portland, Dorset, today, according to a support group.
A spokesperson for Portland Global Friendship Group told the PA news agency: “We held our last community drop-in yesterday. We have been saying goodbye to the men for months as there has been a continual movement since the men first arrived in August last year.
“We continue to support many asylum seekers nationwide from the Bibby Stockholm remotely as they navigate the complex asylum process.
“Portland Global Friendship Group has created a meaningful community here on Portland, at its essence is friendship, kindness and compassion. We are considering how this energy can continue going into the future.”
Hundreds of residents have departed from the barge after the government said it would not renew its contract which expires in January.
The Bibby Stockholm, which can house up to 500 people, has faced a series of setbacks since it was commissioned in April 2023.
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