When the Chancellor speaks at Labour party conference later today she has a tough message to deliver. Rachel Reeves will announce her plans to ‘abolish youth unemployment’ by forcing Britain’s jobless young into work. Those who turn down job offers or training places after a period of inactivity will have their benefits docked.

There’s a moral case to be made for welfare reform and Reeves must make it today.

The ‘youth guarantee’ scheme which Reeves will unveil when she speaks at midday will offer the carrot of a guaranteed work placement once they’ve spent 18 months out of the workforce. The stick, though, will be having their benefits taken away from them if they don’t play ball.

With nearly one million 16-24 year olds classified as not in education, employment or training – so called

See Full Page