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

The i newspaper reported earlier this month that “Former prime minister Boris Johnson promised to increase working-age benefits in line with the September level of inflation, which is now at 10.1 per cent.”

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation has said that if benefits only increase by 5.4% this would ‘amount to the largest permanent deliberate real-terms cut to the basic rate of benefits in history’.

Data from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation shows that 32% of families in Torfaen receive means-tested benefits.

Last week Labour Leader Keir Starmer called on Liz Truss to keep the link with inflation.

Mr 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.”