Jonathan Reynolds MP, Labour’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, commenting on this morning’s claimant count figures released by the ONS, said:

“These figures show the severity of the crisis we are facing.

“Unfortunately these claimants will now discover the UK has one of the weakest out of work safety nets in the developed world. We support the changes the Government has made so far during the outbreak, but they do not match the scale of the crisis.

“That’s why Labour is asking the Government to make five immediate changes to our social security system to make sure no one is forced into hardship.”