Unemployed people who are obese, or suffer with alcohol or drugs problems will have to accept treatment or face missing out on their benefits, under plans suggested by David Cameron.
The Prime Minister has commissioned a review into whether people who refuse treatment should have their benefits cut.
Critics have described the proposal as a "stupid little stunt".
David Cameron's proposal to cut the benefits of the obese, alcoholics and drug addicts if they refuse treatment has been branded a "stupid little stand".
Alastair Campbell, the ex-Labour spin doctor, who has battled a drink problem himself, said the Prime Minister was "pathetic".
He told LBC that Mr Cameron was not taking the problem of addiction seriously, labelling the announcement as "embarrassing" at a time when other world leaders were concentrating on the Ukraine crisis.
"I actually do think when you have got real leaders like (German Chancellor Angela) Merkel doing the things that they are doing, it is embarrassing that we have a PM who does this sort of stuff.
"The fact that he is making a speech about it is pathetic.
"To say we are not going to give you benefit because you are fat, we are not going to give you benefit because you drink too much, just think about what we have become as a country that that is our Prime Minister and that is how they treat a serious illness."
The Democratic presidential candidate may also have shown his cards on his choice of running mate.
The US president also shared a post on Twitter accusing Dr Anthony Fauci of misleading the public over hydroxychloroquine.
Fears over an impending second wave of coronavirus dominates Wednesday’s front pages.