Writing in Conservative Home alongside Shadow Minister for Work and Pensions Helen Whately, Lana has argued that Britain is facing a growing youth inactivity crisis, with rising numbers of young people, particularly young women, not in education, employment or training due largely to ill health. They contend that while support for those with serious conditions is essential, the welfare system increasingly makes long term inactivity easier and more financially viable than entry level work, undermining the principle that work should always pay. They call for reform that restores clear work incentives, distinguishes between severe and milder conditions, and strengthens transition to work support through mentoring, early intervention and a modernised Access to Work scheme, arguing that true compassion lies in empowerment, not permanent withdrawal from the labour market.
Read the full article here: https://conservativehome.com/2026/01/13/helen-whately-and-lana-hempsall-britain-cannot-afford-a-welfare-model-that-writes-off-tens-of-thousands-of-young-people/
