Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden urged Labour MPs to support a major welfare overhaul, describing it as a “moral crusade” and arguing that the system should help people build better futures, not simply provide minimum incomes. His appeal comes as the Government prepares to publish reviews of disability benefits and support for young people who are not in education, employment or training.

The forthcoming review of Personal Independence Payment will inform decisions on England and Wales’s main disability benefit, while Alan Milburn’s report will address around one million NEETs. The Government also plans to expand its job guarantee scheme, offering young people receiving health or disability support a funded job three months after claiming benefits, alongside mentoring and help with mental health, finances and housing; the current waiting period is 18 months on Universal Credit.