Warning over welfare reform plans

Most people should do something to receive benefits, ministers say

A left-wing Labour MP has warned of widespread opposition to proposed reforms aimed at getting more people into work.

Claimants will have to do some form of work or prepare themselves for finding a job in future if they want to receive benefits, ministers have indicated.

But John McDonnell said aspects of the plans would cause "revolt and revulsion" in party and union circles.

The proposals will be outlined in a White Paper on Wednesday.

'Wrong priorities'

They are expected to include penalties for people who turn down reasonable job offers or job interviews, potentially including the loss of benefits or mandatory community service.

Those on incapacity benefits will be expected to prepare themselves for finding work while non-working mothers with children as young as one will be encouraged to return to the workplace when feasible.

There is widespread and growing dismay at the government's dismantling of the welfare state built by the post-war Labour government John McDonnell MP

Only severely disabled people and single mothers with babies under one are likely to avoid any benefits conditions.

Ministers have defended a tougher approach to welfare, saying virtually everyone on benefits should be expected to do something in return for the support and those who can work should look to do so.

But Labour MPs uneasy with the direction of government policy have promised to fight the proposals.

At a time of acute economic insecurity, Mr McDonnell said the government had "got its priorities wrong".

"It is lunacy to force people into jobs that are not there and to force lone parents to take up childcare which is either unaffordable or non-existent," he said.

"There is widespread and growing dismay at the government's dismantling of the welfare state built by the post-war Labour government.

"This smacks of unfairness and another 10 pence tax rate."

Centrepiece

Ministers have made welfare reform a centrepiece of their legislative proposals over the next year, arguing that to abandon such a course of action in the face of a recession would be wrong.

A recent government-commissioned report argued that people should have their benefits cut for four weeks if they repeatedly refused to make efforts to find work.

But charities are concerned that excessive pressure on single parents to find work would be damaging.

"The government's get-tough approach inappropriately puts sensitive decisions about parenting and children's needs in the hands of job centre officials," said Fiona Weir, chief executive of pressure group One Parent Families Gingerbread.

"We know that single parents want to work when it is right for their children but asking them to jump through additional job centre hoops is not the way to help them achieve their ambitions."