A Tory MP was branded "callous" for suggesting poverty-hit people are "sitting on benefits" and should "get any job", as Britain braces for the biggest fall in living standards since the 1950s.
Katherine Fletcher was accused of an "insult" on struggling families after Rishi Sunak's mini-Budget last week failed to offer the poorest help for the looming cost-of-living crisis despite soaring energy bills and food prices.
The Chancellor refused to reinstate the £20 uplift to Universal Credit and, despite inflation set to average 8% this year, uprated benefits by a measly 3%, meaning low-income families will in fact be hit hardest.
