Benefits will be lost if work is refused

YOUNG people will lose their benefits if they refuse to take up work and training opportunities, a Cabinet minister has said ahead of announcing measures to cut the welfare bill.

Liz Kendall said claimants have a "responsibility" to engage with skills or employment programmes and will face sanctions if they decline to do so as part of reforms to be set out next week. The UK Government has said it will stick to a commitment under the former Tory administration to reduce the welfare bill by £3 billion over five years.