Jobless young people should lose benefits if they don't look for work, voters warn

A majority of British voters believe young people should be required to look for work or face losing their benefits, exclusive polling for The i Paper shows.

Fifty-six per cent of adults surveyed by BMG Research say receipt of benefits should be conditional on young people actively seeking work, education or training.

A further 29 per cent say they should be encouraged to do so, while just six per cent believe no expectation should be attached.

Among Labour voters, fewer than one in three – 32 per cent – favour encouragement over a requirement.

Of those who back conditionality, nearly half – 49 per cent – say benefits should be stopped entirely if a young person refuses to take up work, education or training.