In tough times Labour is giving people real help. In this global downturn it is vital we don't repeat the mistakes of the Tory home-grown recessions of the past. Our ambitions for people are higher than abandoning them to a life on benefits with no support.

 Labour is investing to guarantee more support to every person from the moment they face redundancy. While the Conservatives have opposed the new investment in Job Centre Plus, we have put £2 billion into measures to help people get back into work by improving their skills with training. We are guaranteeing a job, training or work placement to all 18-24 year olds who are unemployed for 12 months. We are increasing statutory redundancy pay. Employers are being given a "Golden Hello" worth up to £2,500 to recruit and train people. And we are providing more money and support for the unemployed to set up their own businesses.

 We are reforming the benefits system because we want it to help people overcome problems. We are creating a fairer system -where no-one is left behind and everyone is given the personalised support they need to get back to work. These reforms point the way to a fairer society where children don't grow up in poverty, where disabled people enjoy real equality and everyone is given real help to overcome the barriers to achieving their full potential.

We are offering a simple deal: more support in return for greater responsibility. Labour believes that there is no right to a life on benefits; that paid work is the best route out of poverty and that each of us has a role to play in contributing to the society we live in. We will help people on incapacity benefits to get well and get back to work.  We are giving real help to disabled people with more benefits; more funding to help  with back to work adaptations; and greater choice and control over the public money spent on their behalf. We will support parental responsibility so more children are lifted out of poverty. Out of work parents will be expected to prepare for the day their children are older and they are ready to work. The Tories oppose Labour's plans and would leave people on benefits without the help they need to get back to work and to take responsibility for their family.

 For those who have been unemployed the longest, we will introduce Work for your Benefit so that people do not lose the work habit and so that it is impossible to claim benefit and work on the side.
 
 Under our plans a life on benefits is not an option and getting benefits will mean being expected to do something in return. Heroin and crack addicts on benefits will be expected to get drug treatment in return for their benefits.