THE TORIES are set to come clean over the number of people who have died within six weeks of having their benefits stopped, writes Luke James.

David Cameron confirmed during Prime Minister’s questions yesterday that the government will publish the figures.

“This data will be published and is being prepared for publication as we speak,” he said as disabled people protested in Parliament over benefit cuts.

Labour MP Marie Rimmer had raised the issue after the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) ruled this week that there was no reason to withhold them.

The ICO stepped in after Iain Duncan Smith’s Department for Work and Pensions, which implemented the sanctions, refused to comply with freedom of information requests for the figures.

The department now faces having to release the data within a month.

The victory came as a petition demanding the release of the statistics reached over 225,000 signatures.

It was establish by Maggie Zolobajluk, whose partner is disabled.

She wrote: “I know from personal experience how stressful the system can be and the impact sanctions have on families.”