TORY MPs have reached out to Labour about blocking any government moves to stop benefits from rising in line with inflation, the shadow work and pensions secretary said today.

Prime Minister Liz Truss and Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng have not ruled out taking a different course, with reports suggesting benefits could instead go up in line with the average increase in workers’ pay.

Jonathan Ashworth told the Times Radio that Ms Truss was the “captain of the anti-growth coalition,” and that there was “a lot of anger” from Conservatives.

He said: “I’m saying to Conservative MPs, some of them have already reached out to me, let’s work together and let’s block this very deep cut in disability benefits, in pension benefits, and benefits for working parents.”

Asked whether Ms Truss should be worried, he said: “I’m not a whip but it’s pretty clear to me that Conservative members of Parliament think this is another unfair, deep cut in the incomes of, as I say, the poorest pensioners or disabled people, parents looking after and caring for a disabled child.

“These cuts should not go ahead, so I will work across Parliament in a nonpartisan way to block these cuts where we can and if can.”

He said that Labour would uprate benefits, saying: “To not do so amounts to a permanent cut in the value of social security payments that many working mums and dads, disabled people, mums and dads caring for a disabled child, or the poorest pensioners, it will mean a cut to their income.

“It was only a couple of months ago that the government promised to inflation-rate these payments.”

The comments came after an analysis by the Child Poverty Action Group revealed that 200,000 more children will be pushed into poverty if benefits do not rise in line with inflation.

Chief executive Alison Garnham said: “Britain already faces a child poverty catastrophe, and government will ruin the lives of many more children unless it takes action.

“Struggling parents need reassurance now that their children are not on the list for efficiency savings.

The charity said it has been told by low-income parents they will have to “cut back on everything” and are plagued with “constant worry.”