Rachel Reeves will stress the need for "hard work matched by fair reward" when she unveils plans for a "youth guarantee" to drive down unemployment.

The chancellor will make the case for a society founded on "contribution" in her speech at Labour's annual conference in Liverpool today.

She is expected to confirm plans for every young person who has received universal credit (UC) for 18 months without "earning or learning" to be guaranteed an offer of paid work.

Labour conference in Liverpool - follow live updates

Those who refuse to take up jobs without a "reasonable excuse" will face sanctions such as losing their benefits, it is understood.

The guarantee, which will be overseen by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden, forms part of a pledge of "nothing less than the abolition of

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