The country's youngest MP has blamed Iain Duncan Smith's policies for 'killing' people's loved ones after the former Conservative leader was awarded a knighthood in the New Year Honours.
Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome, 23, took to Twitter when she found out the former Work and Pensions Secretary had made the Queen's list.
The Chingford and Woodford Green MP led the Conservative Party from 2001 to 2003 and acted as chairman for Boris Johnson's successful 2019 leadership campaign.
It is for his work leading the Department of Work and Pensions and as the architect of Universal Credit that he is best known. The new benefits system incorporates a number of state payments rolled into one, which is said to simplify the process.
Ms Whittome, who grew up in The Meadows as the daughter of working-class immigrants, wrote on Twitter: "Today I’m thinking of the millions of people whose loved ones have been killed by Iain Duncan Smith’s policies.
"The 2024 general election campaign has already started because we don’t want to live in a country that rewards ending lives."
Speaking to Nottinghamshire Live, she said she was "absolutely" against Mr Duncan Smith receiving a knighthood for political and public service.
She said: "The policies that Iain Duncan Smith has spearheaded - Universal Credit is one of them, but many policies that have cost people their lives.
"People who took their lives waiting for Universal Credit payments. His policies are responsible for lives being lost."
Asked whether her statement was harsh, she added: "I think it is harsh that people have lost their lives to measures that have been implemented by Iain Duncan Smith. If you speak to people in this position in my constituency they will say the same thing."
No one from Iain Duncan Smith's office was available for comment.
