Sarah Teather's comments are 'needless scaremongering' says spokesman

A spokesman for Iain Duncan Smith has accused ex-Liberal Democrat minister Sarah Teather of scaremongering, following her criticism of the government's benefit plans.

"The criticisms Sarah Teather is levelling against the Government's welfare reforms are hugely misinformed and therefore result in needless scaremongering," he told the Observer.

"It's not fair or right that benefits claimants receive higher incomes than hard-working families who are striving to get on in life. Our reforms bring fairness back to the system while ensuring we support the most vulnerable."