East Surrey MP Sam Gyimah has ducked a challenge to live on benefits of £65 for a week in Salford.

The Tory MP was taking part in a live debate on BBC Radio5 when a member of the audience challenged him.

“In the North West thousands of local authority workers will be thrown on the scrap heap because of your Government in the next six weeks,” the man said.

“And do you know that those figures would be over four million if in fact they registered the number of part-time workers.

“I would like to challenge you to live on unemployment benefits in Salford for one week.

“I’ll organise it to live in a house for one week. Yes or no, will you accept the challenge?”

Heckles

After much heckling, Gyimah responded: “If there is anyone to blame it is the previous Government that racked up so many debts that we have to pay back.”

The man responded: “You perpetuated it and made it worse, so I’ll meet you in Salford on Monday and you are living  there for a week.”