DWP warning as Liz Kendall says people 'can work but will not do so'

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall has said she believes there are people who can work but will not do so. Speaking to BBC ’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, she said: “I know from speaking with our job coaches that there are people who could work who aren’t, but I think they are in the minority.”

When asked what the Government would do to tackle this, Ms Kendall said: “We will bring forward our own reforms.” Liz Kendall said some people have “self-diagnosed” mental health problems when asked about a rise in benefit claimants, but added there is a “genuine problem” with mental health in the UK.

The Work and Pensions Secretary was asked if she thought there were a million more people incapable of working than there were a few years ago, as figures show a rise in benefit claimants in recent years.

Ms Kendall said: “I think there are a combination of factors here. I do think we are seeing an increase in the number of people with mental health problems, both self-diagnosed – I think it’s good that stigma has been reduced – but also diagnosed by doctors.

“We’re also seeing more people in their 50s and above, often women, with bad knees, hips, joints. We’ve got a real problem with our health service.”

Asked whether she believed that “normal feelings” were being “overmedicalised”, Ms Kendall said: “I genuinely believe there’s not one simple thing. You know, the last government said people were too bluesy to work.

“I mean, I don’t know who they were speaking to. There is a genuine problem with mental health in this country.”

Liz Kendall has said people who refuse to engage with the Government’s training or work programmes will lose benefits.

Speaking to Sky News’ Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips programme, she said: “If people repeatedly refuse to take up the training or work responsibilities, there will be sanctions on their benefits.

“The reason why we believe this so strongly is that we believe in our responsibility to provide those opportunities, which is what we will do.

“We will transform those opportunities but young people will be required to take them up.” Liz Kendall said that she believed “many millions” of disabled people and those with long-term health problems want to work, and “we need to break down the barriers to that happening”.

The Work and Pensions Secretary promised “big reforms”, telling Sky News’ Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “Look, don’t get me wrong, the benefits system can incentivise or disincentivise work. But there are many other things we need to do to get people back into work.

“I do not want an ever-increasing benefits bill spent on the cost of failure, people trapped out of work, terrible for their life chances and paid for by the taxpayer. We need big reforms to make that happen.”