Yvette Cooper MP, Labour's Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to the Conservative plans announced today said:

"This is a carefully packaged con. The Tories still want to make cuts in a recession that would destroy jobs and, according to respected economists, would actually push unemployment up to 5 million.

“They are simply rehashing Labour policies without the investment needed to make them work.

"The Tories don't understand that you can't get people from welfare into work if you destroy the jobs for them to go to."