“This government talks to tough on welfare but their failure to end Britain’s jobs crisis is locking millions out of work and sending the benefits bill through the roof.”
“We urgently need a work programme that works and real action to get young people into jobs. That’s how to get welfare spending under control.”
Give us the tools to tackle youth jobs crisis, say councils
Labour councils demand new freedoms to fight for youth jobs as Work Programme fails young people
Labour today called for new freedoms for councils to tackle the youth jobs crisis as analysis of the government’s Work Programme showed the programme found jobs for just 3.3% of young people.
Labour councils are helping young people into work
By Liam Byrne
The Guardian, Thursday 31 January
Government programmes are failing young people, with almost one in five unemployed. Our youth jobs taskforce is fighting back.
As Britain’s youth jobs crisis deepens, it’s time for ministers to hand local council leaders the tools they need to make a difference.
Mr Speaker I rise to move the amendment in my name and the name of my Rt Hon. friends.
It’s appropriate that we have today the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and the Chancellor’s representative.
I’m sorry we don’t have the Chancellor in person.
He and the Pensions Secretary don’t see eye to eye on much.
But they are jointly and severally liable for the haemorrhaging budget, which this Bill seeks to staunch.
My speech to the Fabian Society on the 70th Anniversary of the Beveridge Report, 1st December 2012, Toynbee Hall
I can’t tell you what a privilege it is to deliver a few words to day to mark the 70th anniversary of the Beveridge Report.
I can’t think of a better place to speak than here at Toynbee Hall.
And I can’t think of a better host than the Fabian Society.
The Beveridge Report is part of our new testament.
This House notes that only just over two in every hundred people referred to the Work Programme in its first year have gone into work;
further notes that it has delivered a worse outcome than no programme at all;
recognises long term unemployment is soaring and that the welfare bill is projected to be £20 billion higher than planned;
Opposition Day Debate Speech, Tuesday 11th September 2012
Mr Speaker, I rise to move the motion in my name and the name of my Right Honourable Friends.
Mr Speaker, at the centre of this debate is a simple principle.
That anyone in this country should be better off in work than on benefits.
It’s a principle in which we passionately believe.
We are a party founded for working people. We’re the Labour Party.
Speech to the Social Market Foundation
Ian, can I start by saying how grateful I am to you at the Social Market Foundation for hosting us today.
And for giving me a platform to make my third speech.
To mark the 70th anniversary of one of the great land-marks in our country’s politics and policy:
William Beveridge’s Report on Social Insurance.
I rise to move the motion in my name and my Right Honourable Friends.
Mr Speaker, once upon a time the party opposite liked to boast we’re all in this together.
How hollow those words ring today.
After a budget which gave us the Granny Tax, cuts to tax credits for working people, and a tax cut for millionaires, I think we can safely conclude the Cx was simply trying to take us for a ride.
My Beveridge anniversary speech to Demos
Can I start by thanking Demos for hosting today’s lecture here in the House of Commons.
You have been a consistent champion of the theme I want to explore today, with your ground breaking series of reports, Destination Unknown, produced together with Scope.
We meet in the Boothroyd Room, named after a truly inspiring woman.