The Sky News presenter told the work and pensions secretary: "I'm hearing the carrot, I'm not hearing the stick."

Work and Pensions Secretary will demand town halls draw up ‘Get Britain Working’ plans to help reduce the benefits bill

Ministers will set out details of how they will tackle economic inactivity, and make billions of pounds worth of welfare savings, on Tuesday

If people repeatedly refuse to take up the training or work responsibilities, there will be sanctions on their benefits.'

Liz Kendall said claimants have a "responsibility" to engage with skills or employment programmes and will face sanctions if they decline to do so as part of reforms to be set out next week.

She was speaking as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said on Sunday his Government will crack down on the benefits bill