Coalition programme is not working says Labour

Labour today branded the government’s Work Programme as “a failure” as it published new figures showing that the number of people out of work for over two years has more than doubled since the general election.

Labour added that the proportion of people out of work for over a year – eligible for the Work Programme – coming off benefits and into work, has halved in the last year.

Labour said the Department for Work and Pensions had “dramatically” revised up its predictions to 3.27 million.