DWP Get Britain Working Again reforms in full with list of incoming changes

The Labour Party has confirmed its Get Britain Working Again plan - months on from winning the General Election. Amid growing joblessness and unemployment, Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will announce the plans on Tuesday as part of wide-ranging reforms.

The shake-up is designed to tackle economic inactivity. Ms Kendall commented: “To get Britain growing, we need to get Britain working again. Our reforms will break down barriers to opportunity, help people to get into work and on at work, allow local leaders to boost jobs and growth, and give our children and young people the best opportunities to get on in life.

“The Get Britain Working White Paper shows that this Government stands unashamedly for work. We will make sure everyone, regardless of their background, age, ethnicity, health, disability or postcode can benefit from the dignity and purpose work can bring.”

READ MORE Eight popular beers will be axed from UK pubs

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “From the broken NHS, flatlining economy, and the millions of people left unemployed and trapped in an inactivity spiral – this Government inherited a country that simply isn’t working. But today we’ve set out a plan to fix this.

"A plan that tackles the biggest drivers of unemployment and inactivity and gives young people their future back through real, meaningful change instead of empty rhetoric and sticking plaster politics.”

Why are the Get Britain Working Again reforms happening?

Economic inactivity has also soared to more than nine million, with 2.8 million people out of work due to long-term sickness – a major driver of the rise in joblessness since the pandemic. During the election, Labour pledged to increase the employment rate to 80% from its current level of around 75%.

Tackling economic inactivity, which has risen by 600,000 people since the pandemic, is seen as vital to both boosting economic growth and reducing a spiralling welfare bill that threatens to demand more resources from the Treasury.

What is happening as part of Get Britain Working Again?

Ms Kendall will rollout extra capacity to cut waiting lists at the 20 NHS trusts with the highest levels of economic inactivity. The plans will see an expansion of mental health support and efforts to tackle obesity, too, the DWP has said.

Alongside the focus on improving health, the Government’s plans will see Jobcentres replaced by a new National Jobs and Careers Service. Sir Keir added that the Government’s reforms would “put an end to the culture of blaming and shaming people who for too long haven’t been getting the support they need to get back to work” and help people into “decent, well-paid jobs”. But Ms Kendall also made clear that the Government expected those who were able to work to take up those opportunities.

How are benefits impacted by Get Britain Working Again?

The new DWP reforms and system is expected to have a greater focus on helping people back into work rather than monitoring benefit claims. Other policies include providing additional employment and training opportunities for young people and extra powers for mayors to develop their own employment plans.

How have charities and groups reacted to Get Britain Working Again?

Disability charity Scope also welcomed the announcement as “a positive vision for supporting disabled people into work”, but warned a “lack of trust” in the Department for Work and Pensions could “seriously undermine” the plan. Louise Rubin, Scope’s head of policy, said: “We know that disabled people fear being forced into unsuitable jobs, or losing benefits if they engage with employment services.

“The Government must remove these risks, and work with disabled people to transform employment support and fix our broken benefits system.” Richard Kramer, chief executive at the national disability charity Sense, said that the focused approach to support disabled jobseekers into employment was welcome, but that a lot will need to be done to build trust.

He said: “Disabled people must not be left in fear that their benefits will be cut if they turn down job offers or training courses that don’t meet their needs. There is a lot that will need to be done to rebuild trust with disabled people and to work in partnership with local experts to really deliver this change.

“It is also vital to remember that not every disabled person is able to work and no-one ever should be pressured into taking a job at the expense of their health.”