Esther McVey caused outrage by appearing to blame families living on their breadline for their own poverty - saying they prioritise mobile phones over food.
The MP - tipped for a leadership bid as Prime Minister Theresa May battles Brexit woes - is seen as the face of hated Tory benefit policies like the Bedroom Tax and Universal Credit .
The policies have made her a controversial figure and have been linked to a rise in poverty and foodbank use across the country.
In an interview in today's Times, the ex-Wirral West politician made reference to the proliferation of foodbanks, saying: “When I was growing up my parents put money into food, utility bills and the mortgage.
"Now people feel to be connected they’ve got to have an iPad and a phone that will help them with education and jobs.”
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The comments from Ms McVey, who some pundits are tipping to take a run at the top job at No 10 if Mrs May decides to step down, were roundly condemned this morning.
Andy Heaton, presenter of the Anfield Wrap podcast, said, according to the Liverpool Echo : "I do wonder if Esther McVey is aware when she is scolding the most vulnerable for not surviving exclusively on gruel and water that the only way to apply for Universal Credit is to have access to the Internet?
"Dense or disingenuous? Makes me sick that she was born in Liverpool."
A critic on Twitter responded: "I presume when she was growing up her parents invested in a car, a telephone and even shoes to help them access education and jobs.
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"How lavish and downright crass of them!"
Another said: "Unfortunately, everyone needs a phone to avoid being sanctioned and access to the internet to use the benefit system... conveniently forgets this doesn’t she?
"She’s a self interested self promoting disgrace."
Ryan Forde-Kelly said: "Depressing that this 'pull yourself up, by your own bootstraps' rhetoric still persists from these people.
"Some people haven’t got boots and those who manage to navigate poverty, have had luck that other hard working people haven’t along the way. 'I’m alright Jack' culture, it is."
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In the Times interview, McVey, who believes she has a "fair shot" at becoming Prime Minister and would consider running in a leadership contest, revealed she voted for Mrs May's withdrawal agreement in its third Commons vote.
The businesswoman, who previously worked in the media presenting and producing programmes such as GMTV, said: “I still believe it’s a bad deal, I have never changed on that.”
But with MPs pushing for a softer Brexit , or even no Brexit, she added: "You think - what can I salvage?... At least you can say we are out.”
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McVey said in today's interview that whenever she walked into No 10 for cabinet meetings, she would think she was there to represent the most “vulnerable” people in the country.
“You’ve got to be for all parts of the country and for everybody.”
