One food bank in Southwark reported an increase in the number of referrals by 94 per cent - 'mainly due to the welfare reform and universal credit'

Three-hour parliamentary session to take place as pressure grows to reduce six-week delay before benefits payments begin

MPs suggest six-week wait for first benefit payment could be reduced to a month despite May’s insistence system is working

Exclusive: Pressure to act at the Budget next month grows as three-quarters of public think six-week wait is too long

'We would like to see it set down to four weeks which is what you would have when you went into work and got a salary'

From failed schools to the east coast main line to the NHS, the Tory party in power has been a tale of ideological disasters – costing the taxpayer billions