MANCHESTER, England, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- British Prime Minister Tony Blair has outlined plans to reform the welfare system if Labor is re-elected.
Speaking in Manchester Tuesday, Blair said Labor would crack down on abuse of the system and help people receiving disability benefits -- more than 2.5 million Britons -- back into work.
"It is important that we have a system that people feel is fair," he said.
"We want a system that rewards work, rewards learning, targets abuse and has respect for the local community in which we live running through everything we do."
The government will unveil a detailed five-year plan for welfare reform Wednesday ahead of elections widely expected in May.
Conservative Work and Pensions spokesman David Willetts told the BBC the proposals were aimed purely at winning headlines.
"It is classic Blairism -- it sounds tough, it will generate a row, the left-wingers will say it's appalling, but in the real world, it won't help," he said.
