We need to fix the benefits trap, not just throw money at it.

I was talking to a chap the other day, an immigrant who’s been here about five years. He's a skilled tradesman, really capable, but he was telling me how impossible it feels to get his qualifications recognised and get back into his trade. He’s been stuck in a string of low-paid, insecure jobs, and honestly, the benefits system feels like it’s designed to keep him there. It's not that he doesn't want to work; it's that the system makes it so difficult to climb out.

This isn't an isolated case, I suspect. We talk a lot about wanting an active, contributing society, but our welfare system often seems to function more like a long-term holding pen. My proposal is to create a much more proactive and personalised support service for long-term unemployed, especially those with recognised skills who are struggling to break back into the workforce.