The Work programme has already helped 296,000 people find lasting work.

But given the variation in labour markets across the country Liberal Democrats want to go further and adopt a more local approach.

Liberal Democrat Minister for Work and Pensions Steve Webb, said:

“The Liberal Democrats believe in creating opportunity for everyone. That means working together with local authorities and specialist charities to give people who are furthest from the workplace the support they need to get on in life.

“We need to help those who fall out of the labour market to find work quickly, help those who have been out of work a long time to take steps back into work and help those who have found work to progress.”