EMPLOYMENT MINISTER ALISON MCGOVERN HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS TO SCRAP AN OLD RULE THAT STEERED BRITS TOWARDS UNSTABLE, LOW-PAID JOBS WITHOUT CONSIDERING THEIR PERSONAL SITUATIONS RORY POULTER

15:52, 30 May 2025 Job hunters can breathe a sigh of relief as the government announces job seekers will no longer be forced to take any available job, thanks to major overhauls in the

benefits system. Employment Minister Alison McGovern has announced plans to scrap an old rule that steered Brits towards unstable, low-paid jobs without considering their personal

situations. McGovern is promising bespoke, long-term career support, despite the department facing scrutiny for cutting disability benefits. In a transformation of Jobcentre practices, Ms

time to provide customised advice, especially for those grappling with complex health woes or extended spells of joblessness. This news lands as Labour faces internal strife over slashes to

personal independence payments (PIP) and incapacity benefits, with up to 170 Labour MPs set to defy or abstain from voting on the measures – an act that could embarrass Sir Keir

Starmer's administration with a stinging defeat. Speaking to the Guardian, McGovern said, "I don't blame anybody for being scared or worried about it because given what's

happened with changes to disability benefits before, I understand that." Article continues below Despite assurances to the public, the government is ploughing on with benefit reforms

that are set to leave many out of pocket. The Resolution Foundation think tank has sounded the alarm, suggesting these changes could plunge more people into poverty, while Labour insists the

shake-up will actually help more people find work. Ms McGovern highlighted that those impacted will be on the receiving end of top-notch support, including medical advice from GPs and

physiotherapists, as well as a revamp of Jobcentre services. In ongoing pilot schemes, the typical five-minute chats with work coaches are being swapped out for more in-depth sessions

designed to "see the whole person". The system is steering claimants to open up about their life experiences so they can get bespoke assistance – whether that's linking them

up with potential employers or ensuring they keep their jobs once hired. "Nobody is ever going to make a film of I, Daniel Blake, but the reverse," quipped Ms McGovern, alluding to

the Ken Loach film that portrays a man let down by the welfare system. "But what I would like is a person comes into the Jobcentre who has perhaps not worked for some years and ...

they are given the time so that they can tell their whole story." The Labour party has slammed the Tories for creating a "black hole" in the employment support system,

criticising their "top-down bureaucratic" methods that have barely made a dent in unemployment rates. The government plans to ramp up funding for work assistance for those with

long-term health issues to £1billion annually by 2020's end – but only £300million is earmarked for the coming year. Labour proposes a tech-savvy overhaul, introducing AI tools like

"DWP Ask" to manage mundane administrative tasks, freeing up staff to offer more personalised, face-to-face advice. They also plan to streamline processes by pre-filling forms

before job coach appointments to enhance the efficiency of these sessions. The minister expressed concern over the current lack of employer engagement with Jobcentres, with only one in six

employers involved – a figure she's keen to improve." The Tories used to talk about ABC: 'Any job, Better job, Career'," she reflected, before offering her own take.

"I think that if you think about the career [first] ... If we can get people into an NHS job where they're more likely to move on and move up, then that is far better for

them." Ms McGovern highlighted her particular worry for the youth, who are still grappling with the long-term mental scars left by Covid. In extreme cases, she noted, work coaches have

had to physically accompany young jobseekers to job fairs or public places to help them combat intense social anxiety. "Now, that tells me that there's an issue," she

expressed. "We have to pay our debt to the Covid generation ... I worry particularly about young people, and I think there has not been enough discussion or understanding of what Covid

took from young people." Despite divisions within her party, Ms McGovern was adamant about the necessity of these changes. Article continues below "I don't blame colleagues

for listening to their constituents who are fearful," she stated. "But people will only stop being afraid if they can see that the system has truly changed." She concluded by

saying: "The social security system can never overcome the sort of deep inadequacies that there are in our economy. What we need is to change our economy, make sure that people have got

chances and choices and opportunity ... So I think these changes are necessary. I know that the job is much bigger than that."