Gordon Brown says there will be a ‘national uprising’ if Tories slash benefits for poor

The Labour former Prime Minister added to a chorus of opposition from Tories – as he said only raising benefits by earnings would be “immoral”, “unfair” and “unequal”

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Gordon Brown warns of ‘national uprising’ over Tory plans

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown today warned of a “national uprising” unless benefits rise in line with inflation.

The ex-Labour leader – who yesterday warned in the Mirror of a “bloodbath” – said such a move would be “immoral”, “unfair” and “unequal”.

It comes as PM Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng refuse to rule out what would be a real-terms welfare cut.

“There will be a national uprising if this goes ahead because it is nothing to do with making the growth policies of the Government work, it is simply making the poor pay the price,” fumed Mr Brown.

“It’s divisive because we’re not in this together any more, it’s anti-work because 40% of those who would suffer are people on low pay in work, it’s anti-family because five million children would be in poverty – and I think most of all it’s immoral.

“It’s asking the poor to bear the burden for the crisis that we face in this country and for mistakes that other people have made, and it’s a scar on the soul of our country, it’s a stain on our conscience.”

Ms Truss was left reeling after colleagues blasted her refusal to guarantee welfare payments would rise in line with inflation, currently at 9.9%.

Instead, they could increase with earnings – estimated at 5.4%.

Boris Johnson had pledged benefits would climb with inflation.

But Ms Truss insisted: “No decision has been made yet on benefit uprating.”

Liz Truss has repeatedly refused to rule out more U-turns over her mini-Budget, which announced £45bn of tax cuts funded by borrowing.

Yet in her conference speech she will insist there can be no more “drift and delay” in the effort to boost economic growth – and say “disruption” is worth it.

Gordon Brown, the former Prime Minister

She will defend her “new approach” which will “unleash the full potential of our great country”.

And she will pledge a “new Britain for a new era”, despite 12 years of Tory rule.

It comes as Ms Truss considers raising benefits only by earnings of around 5% instead of inflation of up to 10% in April.

The Resolution Foundation said the real-terms cut would leave a single adult £391 worse off, a single parent of one £607 worse off, and a working family with two children £1,061 worse off next year.

A dizzying line-up of Tories demanded a welfare rise with inflation – ranging from right-wingers Esther McVey and Lord Frost, to centre-right Damian Green, Mel Stride and Michael Gove.

“The Government shouldn’t take on battles it can’t win,” said Lord Frost.

Serving Cabinet ministers Penny Mordaunt and Robert Buckland urged a rise with inflation – and more raised fears in private, a No10 insider said.

The insider added: “The policy is… dynamic”.

But Home Secretary Suella Braverman bizarrely moaned people who work “should be working”.

She told a fringe event she “wanted to cut welfare spending,” adding: “We have far too many people in this country who are fit to work, who are able to work, and should be working.

“And they choose to top up their salaries with tax credits.”

More than 40% of people on Universal Credit already have a job, but are eligible for the benefit because they are very poorly paid.

Ms Braverman added: “The benefit street culture I think is a feature of modern Britain.

“I think that culture does exist – in my constituency in Fareham, I’ve got people here, local councillors and they will confirm that even in Fareham in sunny leafy Fareham, there are pockets of communities where families have known nothing else but welfare.”