Rachel Reeves MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, responding to the Conservative benefits announcement, said:

“Labour supports a cap on benefits. We will ask an independent commission to look at whether the cap should be lower in some areas. 

‘But David Cameron can’t hide from the fact that his government has spent £25bn more than planned on welfare because of his failure to tackle the low pay that leaves millions dependent on benefits to make ends meet. And nobody will believe promises on apprenticeships from a government that had seen the number of apprenticeships for young people fall.”