Nick Thomas-Symonds has called on the Government to honour the promise former Prime Minister Boris Johnson made and uprate benefits in line with inflation, to match the increased costs of food and energy millions of people are facing.

So far, Liz Truss has refused to rule out making real-terms cuts to benefits by raising them in-line with the lower measure of earnings at 5.4%, which as the Joseph Rowntree Foundation noted would “amount to the largest permanent deliberate real-terms cut to the basic rate of benefits in history”

Further research by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation has found that 32% of families in Torfaen are receiving means-tested benefits and would be at risk of this possible real-terms cut by the Government which will hit the most vulnerable in society while the cost of living is continuing to increase.

Last week Labour Leader Keir Starmer called on Liz Truss to keep the link with inflation, and the Prime Minister has faced internal opposition to her plans for a real-terms cut, with Cabinet Member Penny Mordaunt indicating her support for benefits keeping pace with inflation.

Nick Thomas-Symonds said: “People on low incomes and disabled people should not be paying the price for the Tories’ failure and the Tories’ lack of grip on our economy.

Working parents, disabled people and the poorest pensioners are already being hit by the skyrocketing cost of living.

The Conservative Government need to honour the commitments they have previously made and ensure benefits rise with inflation, so families get the support they need.”