Labour vows to help ‘written off’ people with mental health issues back to work

Shadow health secretary says it is wrong to think people with addiction or mental health problems do not want to work

Labour plans to reach thousands of people with addiction or mental health issues written off" by the Department for Work and Pensions to help them back into employment, with personalised support offered through treatment centres.

Visiting a centre in Nottingham which offers wraparound treatment, benefits and employment support, the shadow work and pensions secretary, Jon Ashworth, said it was wrong to assume those undergoing treatment for drug and alcohol addiction did not want to find ways to work.