David Lammy has reportedly told his Cabinet colleagues that he has a family member who is on benefits when they probably should not be.
The Foreign Secretary supposedly made the remark during a heated exchange at last week’s Cabinet meeting.
Lammy is understood to have said that a member of his extended family probably should not be in receipt of the welfare payments they currently receive, The Financial Times has claimed.
The row comes after Labour MPs were left divided on Liz Kendall's decision to cut Britain's ballooning benefits bill.
David Lammy has reportedly told his Cabinet colleagues that he has a family member who is on benefits when they probably should not be
ReutersThe Works and Pensions Secretary unveiled a series of measures earlier this week.
They included tightening rules around who receives unemployment perks and ending Universal Credit for under 22-year-olds.
Ex-Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Burgon warned that the decision to halt the current welfare system could see Sir Keir Starmer face the "mother of all rebellions".
Starmer faced fury from Labour MPs in the House of Commons yesterday, with ex-Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott accusing the Prime Minister of “balancing the books” on the backs of Britain’s poorest and most vulnerable.
No10 is already facing a major threat at a grassroots level, with local Labour insiders warning about a mass exodus ahead of the local Elections.
The Prime Minister also faced further fury this week over the decision taken in the last Budget to hike taxes, including on National Insurance contributions for employers.
In a fiery exchange in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Kemi Badenoch said: “The Chancellor claimed that her Budget was a once in a Parliament reset.
"So why are we having an emergency Budget next week?”
Responding to the Leader of the Opposition, Sir Keir Starmer bluntly replied: “We have delivered record investment into this country, three interest rate cuts in a row and wages are going up faster than prices which is a massive cost of living boost.
“That is after only eight months after 14 years of absolute failure.”
However, the Leader of the Opposition doubled-down on the Prime Minister’s economic record.
After accusing the Chancellor of “destroying” business confidence, Badenoch asked: “Does the Prime Minister now regret raising taxes on business?”
The Prime Minister replied: “The OBR will present their numbers, there will be a spring statement next week.
"But we have got record investment into this country, interest rates have been cut and she talks about National Insurance, we had to fill the £22 billion black hole that they left.”
GB News has approached Lammy for comment.
