DWP new rules for job seekers at the job centre Labour government

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has criticised the previous government’s rhetoric of “scramblers versus hoarders” as she outlined plans for a major overhaul of the DWP. In her first major inaugural speech since taking up the role at the Department for Work and Pensions, Ms Kendall announced her intention to overhaul the department.

“Under my political leadership, the DWP will be transformed from a department of social care to a department of employment,” she told an event in Barnsley, which coincided with the publication of the Pathways to Work Commission report by former cabinet minister and current health adviser Alan Milburn.

She criticised the existing system, saying it was “too isolated and too centralised”, accusing “conservatives of putting scoring political points ahead of solving problems”.

She said: “Their divisive rhetoric about people trying versus those squandering, or claiming people are simply feeling ‘too depressed’ to work, may have made headlines but it has done absolutely nothing to get Britain working again.”

“As today’s report rightly states, the economically inactive are not one homogeneous group. There will be some who will act fraudulently, others who will say they cannot work but will be able to.”

“But the vast majority face a range of complex barriers that prevent them from getting what both they and policymakers want – a path to paid employment.”

The speech follows the announcement by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions that, as part of its Mission for Growth, the Government will publish a White Paper that will build on the manifesto commitments to a three-pillar approach to supporting people into work:

• A new National Employment and Careers Service to help more people find and stay in work.