Benefits claimants will be required to carry out 20 hours of community service a week under a Reform government, Robert Jenrick announced today. The party’s Treasury spokesman said those who are fit to work must help clean up high streets and parks and carry out minor repairs to libraries and town halls, or face penalties.

The measure is the latest addition to Reform’s welfare blitz, which would strip all foreign nationals, including EU citizens, of access to benefits such as universal credit, housing benefit and pension credit. The party believes its cuts would save taxpayers £21 billion by the fifth year.

Welfare is fertile political ground for Reform as it competes with the Conservatives

Welfare is fertile political ground for Reform as it competes with the Conservatives

The new ‘Welfare to Work’ community service scheme would apply to work-capable universal credit claimants in the ‘seeking work’ group who have claimed continuously for more than 12 months. It would be administered by local........

© The Spectator