Those who can work will work under Labour, Liz Kendall told party conference

Ms Kendall promised to tackle 'unemployment'; if her party comes to power. Photo: Nicola Tree/Getty Images Europe

Labour will make sure everyone who can work works, the shadow work and pensions secretary has said, as she tries to reassure voters the party can cope with rising prosperity. bill.

In her first major speech since taking office, Liz Kendall promised to tackle «unemployment» if her party came to power in a country where 5.3 million people are on the payroll. unemployment benefits despite almost a million job vacancies.

Labour has long been characterized as the party of handouts, but Ms Kendall said the emphasis would be on getting people back to work rather than increasing their benefits, as she spoke at the Labor Party conference.

The Labor Party has long been characterized as the party of handouts, she said.

: “Our first priority will be to ensure that everyone who can work, has worked.

“Because we believe that the benefits of work go beyond the payroll—and that good work brings dignity and self-respect.

>'Break down the barriers to success'

“So we'll break down the barriers on the way to success. We will tackle the root causes of unemployment.»

Ms Kendall said «poverty is rising and so are the costs to taxpayers», adding that more than two million people had signed up with illness or disability. want to work.

The number of economically inactive working-age people rose sharply during the Covid pandemic and has not recovered, partly due to the number of people who have developed mental health problems during lockdown.

< p>Public benefits including pensions cost the average taxpayer £2,000 sterling a year as the benefit bill grew from £168 billion in 2017-18 to £279 billion in 2023-24.

Universal Credit takes on the role Of this £60 billion figure, Of which £40 billion will go towards disability and carers' benefits.

Ms Kendall said that by hiring thousands more mental health staff and improving their skills, Labor would get people back to work.< /p> >

She also promised to reform Universal Credit «to protect people when they need it and really make sure people get paid» but did not provide any further details.