Young unemployed people who refuse to take training courses to gain key skills could lose benefits under a Labour government, Ed Miliband says.
Under the plan 18-21 year olds will only get Jobseeker’s Allowance if they already have the skills to get a job. Other changes will see higher rates of Jobseekers’ Allowance for people who have been in work for five years.
The pledge comes as Mr Miliband insisted he could “defy the odds” by winning the next general election. He was hitting back after a YouGov poll suggested as many as 60% of voters think he is not up to the job of being prime minister.
Mr Miliband acknowledged he had a “tough fight” to return Labour to power after one term in opposition, but said he was “relishing” the battle over the next 10 months leading up to the May 2015 poll. Read more
