Row over fines for 'work-shy'

Labour was hit today by a new row over plans to clamp down on the "work-shy".

Work and Pensions Secretary Alan Johnson plans a pilot scheme in December to levy tough fines on jobseeker's allowance claimants who refuse offers of work, party sources revealed.

The Tories accused Labour of "empty spin" because Mr Johnson failed to unveil the plan in a speech this week - even though The Sun predicted he would. The newspaper said a series of fixed fines would start at ?110 and rise to six months' benefit. Labour sources said Gordon Brown previewed the plan in the Budget.

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