Labour will find it hard to get tough on benefits seekers

Liz Kendall gave a speech this morning in which she promised to ‘build a better future’ for young people, with better mental health support and careers advice in schools. Sounds pretty motherhood-and-apple-pie from the shadow work and pensions secretary, but what’s getting more attention is that she also said there would be ‘no option of a life on benefits’ for people who can work. 

This is interesting for two reasons. One is that the Labour party has really struggled over the past decade with conditionality in the benefits system, and more widely with the idea that it should tell people they should be in work. But that is exactly what Kendall said today. She told a Demos event:

This is our commitment to young people. We value you. You are important. We will invest in you and help you build a better future, with all the chances and choices this brings.