Best thing we can offer young people is a job, not benefits, says chancellor

The chancellor has warned against allowing Britain's benefits bill to balloon while not offering young people opportunities.

John Healey told Labour's annual conference in Liverpool that cutting welfare spending was "more than an economic must - it's a moral duty".

"The best thing we can offer a young person is not a benefit payment - it's a first job with training and a wage," he said.

He announced the expansion of a Local Apprenticeships Service for mayors in England, which…