Jobseekers Support Will Be Improved, Employment Minister Says

Jobcentres will no longer force people into "any job" available, the employment minister has said, promising there will be long-term, personalised career support for those losing out due to welfare cuts.

- Jessica Elgot

Alison McGovern said she was ending the Tory policy that jobseekers were obliged to take any low-paid, insecure work and that the service would now be focused on helping people to build rewarding careers.

McGovern, who is tasked with an overhaul of employment support in the wake of significant cuts to disability benefits, said the department would use AI to free up the workloads of job coaches, giving them more time to provide "human" support to those with complex needs and long-term unemployment.

The government is facing revolt among Labour MPs over the proposed cuts - which some in No 10 fear could mean losing the vote in parliament.

McGovern said she wanted to acknowledge that there were many disabled people who would feel "frightened" by the cuts to personal independence payment (Pip) and incapacity benefits, with many losing support entirely.