Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary Yvette Cooper MP responding to George Osborne's comments about the welfare budget said:

"George Osborne talks about cutting the welfare bill, but their own figures show their policies are cutting jobs and putting more people onto benefits.

“We know already that the coalition is hitting the poorest carers, pensioners and the most disabled. They urgently need to explain where these extra cuts will fall.

“We already introduced tough conditions on those who refused to work and we support strong requirements on jobseekers. But you can't get more people into work if you cut the jobs for them to go to."