Tories making Britain 'sick man of Europe' - with north hit twice as hard as south

Labour have accused the Tories of turning Britain into the “sick man of Europe” as the number of people on long-term sick reaching a record 2.6 million.

And the number is rising nearly twice as fast in the North of England, where ministers have promised to “level up” communities as it is in the South.

Jonathan Ashworth, Labour ’s Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary blamed record NHS waiting times and out of date benefit rules for trapping people out of work.