The work and pensions secretary has paved the way for another fight with MPs over Britain’s welfare bill, saying Labour must stop “simply writing a cheque” for benefits claimants and instead provide more job support.

Meanwhile, in late May, the first phase of the Milburn review called for a “whole system reset” involving welfare, schools, and employers to bring down a massive increase in the number of young people out of work or education after the figure topped one million.

Mr Milburn last week insisted that incoming prime minister Andy Burnham is up for overhauling the welfare system and knows it is “absolutely necessary”.

So what I’m hearing is “everybody hates the current system because they are not getting the support they need”, and somehow the conclusion is “we should give them less financial support”. If this is truly the stance (they are being deliberately vague about what this reform will actually entail) then it is a truly braindead take.

Cutting PIP and putting conditions on support would make the system even more soul destroying than it is.

If you want people back in work, give them good healthcare and a solid safety net. As for people who can’t work, leave them to live a comfortable life and stop trying to make them destitute.