Labour will withhold benefits to claimants who show no appetite for finding employment, reports the Sun.

Today, the work and pensions secretary Alan Johnson will unveil the plan for the £55-a-week jobseekers’ allowance to be docked for two weeks if claimants break rules on keeping or finding a job.

Meanwhile the Mirror reports that the party intends to set up an NHS Direct-style helpline for struggling parents.

Education minister Ruth Kelly said Parents Direct would be operational in 2008 if Labour won the election.