Labour

Labour jobs plan attacked by the wealthy who would pay for it

Tue, 11/03/2014 - 12:35 -- nick

The Labour party's plan to guarantee a job for every young person who had been unemployed for more than a year has come under attack - by the Institute of Directors.

The IoD represents some of the wealthiest people in the UK, and they will have pension allowances cut to pay for part of the scheme.

The rest of the money will come from a levy on bankers' bonuses.

'Robin Hood' Labour to take from bankers and give to young jobless

Mon, 10/03/2014 - 18:40 -- nick

The Labour party has announced a plan to tax bankers' bonuses to pay for a job guarantee for young unemployed people.

The party wants to have its cake and eat it though; a job would be provided to all under-25s who had been unemployed for more than a year, but the would lose benefits if they turned it down.

The language of 'guarantees' versus ' compulsory' mean it is not clear whether Miliband and Balls are pro- or anti-unemployed.

£20 per week extra for new unemployed - Labour

Tue, 21/01/2014 - 12:57 -- nick

Labour will top-up Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) by £20 each week for those who have paid National Insurance for at least five years before becoming unemployed.

Rachel Reeves, Labour's work and pensions spokesperson, followed yesterday's confirmation of her party's policy of linking benefits to contributions by outlining an amount for the increase, should her party win the 2015 election.

She told think tank the IPPR:

NI payers to get higher unemployment benefits under Labour

Mon, 20/01/2014 - 14:48 -- nick

The Labour party has promised to restore the contributory principle to unemployment benefits.

Those who have paid National Insurance as part of their previous salary will be entitled to higher benefits than those who have not.

This proposal would bring the UK into line with most of the rest of Europe, which sees benefits linked to previous pay.

Government welfare failings cost £1.5b, but does Labour have the answer?

Thu, 22/08/2013 - 11:54 -- nick

Labour has accused the government of ruling over a chaotic welfare reform system as multiple failures come home to roost.

The party's work and pensions spokesman, Liam Byrne, estimated the cost of youth contract, universal credit, the bedroom tax, the work programme and work capability tests could end up costing the country nearly £1.5 billion.

The coalition introduced some of these measures as part of its austerity programme to cut costs, and an accusation of financial incompetence will not sit well with ministers.

Miliband denies ditching Labour values on benefits

Fri, 07/06/2013 - 11:05 -- nick

Labour leader Ed Miliband denied that the party was abandoning its values at a speech on benefits yesterday in Newham in East London.

Miliband committed Labour to a three-year benefit cap if it formed a government after the 2015 general election, in one of his first policy announcements on welfare.

Having previously been seen as the party of the poor, the speech showed that Labour has moved closer to the Conservatives on welfare:

"It is only by reforming social security with the right values that we'll be able to control costs.

Labour proposes job guarantee for long-term unemployed

Fri, 04/01/2013 - 17:29 -- nick

The Labour party has said it would offer all long-term unemployed people a job guaranteed for six months if it was in government.

Employers in the private or voluntary sector would be given subsidies to take staff on, while jobseekers who refused work would have their benefits docked.

The party will not commit to this policy if it wins the next election, but says that it shows its intentions if it was in government now.

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