A system that was originally designed to support the poorest in society is now trapping them in the very condition it was supposed to alleviate.

Government cannot do it all. As we work hard to break welfare dependency and get young people ready for the labour market, we need businesses to give them a chance and not just fall back on labour from abroad.

I went up to the top of the career ladder and I came down again, I am past all that.

With the right support, a child growing up in a dysfunctional household, who was destined for a lifetime on benefits could be put on an entirely different track - one which sees them move into fulfilling and sustainable work. In doing so, they will pull themselves out of poverty.

If you knowingly and willingly embark on criminal behaviour, the consequences of that should be... that you lose some of your benefits under the current system

A good proportion of foreign nationals in jobs in the UK are in semi or low-skilled occupations.

If Britain is to have a stable, affordable pension system, people need to work longer, but we will reward their hard work with a decent state pension that will enable them to enjoy quality of life in their retirement.