A veteran Kent MP has warned "you don't protect the vulnerable by cutting benefits", as the Prime Minister faces another flashpoint with her party.

Sir Roger Gale, who represents North Thanet, says to not put welfare payments up by the rate of inflation "would leave many people out in the cold, quite literally".

Meanwhile Ashford MP Damian Green says to make hard-up families "struggle even more does not seem a sensible thing to do".

Liz Truss is coming under increasing pressure on the issue - after the government was forced to to abandon its plans to scrap the top rate of income tax for the highest earners.

Sir Roger says he is not inclined to support benefit cuts but emphasised he wants to see what the Chancellor’s proposals amount to.

"It is a hard call because the Prime Minister has made it very plain that she intends to see people through what is likely to be a very hard winter," he said.

"You don’t protect the vulnerable by cutting benefits.

“By the same token, when households are facing serious cost-of-living rises, it is a difficult call to say 'we have got to make rises’.

"But on balance I would say benefits have got to go up by the rate of inflation because to do anything other than that would leave many people out in the cold, quite literally.”

The veteran Conservative sympathises with the Prime Minister over the issue.

“She is stuck between a rock and a hard place," he said.

"Prior to the budget that wasn't a budget she was accused of not consulting the cabinet. I would imagine that she definitely wants to take the cabinet with her before she makes any decision.

"I would not myself be inclined to vote for a cut in benefits."

Asked how the money would be found, he told the BBC: "There are ways in which to make savings in public spending departments that would not affect benefits."

Mr Green said: "If people are already struggling, to make them struggle even more does not seem a sensible thing to do.

"I agree with the Prime Minister when she says we have to look at this in the round.

"It does not make sense to give people £1,200 to help with energy bills and then say we are going to claw back hundreds of pounds."

The answer was for the government "to work harder" to get people off benefits to reduce the welfare budget, he said.