DWP Universal Credit and PIP claimants have been given new Jobcentre rules under the Labor Government

The new head of the Department for Work and Pensions, Liz Kendall, has declared a crackdown on unemployment. Universal Credit and PIP claimants could face significant changes as Ms Kendall, a key figure in the new Labor government, made her position clear.

She took aim at the Tory’s “divisive rhetoric about fighters versus stragglers”, pledging to support those keen to re-enter the workforce. She criticized the Conservative Party for its “complete failure” to address the issues facing people.

She accused the previous government of prioritizing “political scoring over solving problems”. The head of the DWP said: “Their divisive rhetoric about strivers versus saints or claiming people were too ‘bluesy’ to work may have grabbed the headlines, but it did absolutely nothing to get Britain back to work “.

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Ms Kendall set an ambitious target of an 80% employment rate, vowing to transform the Department for Work and Pensions from “a department for welfare to a department for work”. “We will only make commitments when we say how we can afford them,” she added.

The Labor Market Advisory Board, which will meet quarterly, will be chaired by Paul Gregg – former Director of the Center for Social Policy Analysis at the University of Bath. The council will advise the work and pensions secretary and provide insight, expertise and challenge to the department’s plans, Birmingham Live reports.

She unveiled a new national jobs and careers service aimed at boosting the employment rate, as well as introducing work, health and skills plans for the economically inactive, led by mayors and local areas. Ms Kendall also announced a Youth Guarantee for all 18-21 year olds.

She argued that too many people are stuck in low-paying, low-quality jobs with little chance of improvement. Of those earning low wages in 2006, only one in six managed to escape that situation a decade later.