Yvette Cooper, the new welfare secretary, on Tuesday pledged to press ahead with tendering for a flagship programme aimed at helping the long-term unemployed, in a move that could tie the hands of a Conservative government.

In her first speech as secretary of state, Ms Cooper promised to stick to the timetable for the second round of Flexible New Deal – under which payments to welfare-to-work groups are closely tied to placing people in jobs – which would complete coverage across the country.