Young people who refuse to work to lose benefits - minister

Under new measures to reform the welfare system, a "Youth Guarantee" for 18 to 21-year-olds aims to train young people or get them back into work.

Kendall told Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg these proposals would see an overhaul of the apprenticeship system so "more people have the chance to train" with young people offered "the opportunity to be earning or learning".

Asked if those who did not take up these offers would lose benefits, Kendall replied: "Yes."

She said this would transform opportunities for young people.

"If you are out of work when you’re young that can have lifelong consequences in terms of your future job prospects and earning potential."

Under the previous Conservative government's plans to tighten eligibility for incapacity benefits, an estimated 400,000 people signed off work long-term would have lost payments.

The work and pensions secretary refused to confirm whether those people would keep their benefits under Labour's proposals.

"We will deliver those savings, we will bring forward our own reforms," she said.

Shadow housing secretary Kevin Hollinrake said that rising numbers of people out of work due to ill health was "a phenomenon caused largely by the pandemic".

He said the previous government had been "dealing with it" and welcomed Labour's focus on the issue, but added: "I want to make sure they do the right things rather than just talk a good game."