The dismal labour market has not sapped the government's ardour for welfare reform, nor that of voters. On March 17th the House of Commons approved a bill to make most of those on out-of-work benefits take steps towards getting a job. Campaigners for single parents and the poor say a recession is no time to get stingy. Surprisingly few Labour backbenchers seem to agree.rnMinisters point to the scheme's carrots rather than to its myriad sticks. Help to get welfare recipients into work is to become bespoke. Far from aping the American reforms of 1996, which imposed a time limit on access to benefits, James Purnell, the work and pensions secretary, looks to northern Europe, where intensive back-to-work advice allows generous benefits to co-exist with low unemployment. But this is tough love: sanctions will fall on claimants who fail to meet various conditions, and doctors will reassess those on incapacity benefit to identify those able to work.
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