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Former Merseyside MP Esther McVey has caused outrage after saying the Conservative Party is the 'natural party of the working classes'.

The controversial ex-Work and Pensions secretary is widely disliked by many voters on Merseyside, having been seen as the face of Tory benefit policies like the Bedroom Tax, and more recently Universal Credit.

Both have both been blamed for pushing people into poverty across Merseyside and the country, as well as for causing the rise in people having to use foodbanks.

Tweeting a photo of an article she wrote in the Daily Express, McVey shared a photo of the headline which said: "We Tories are the natural party of working classes."

She shared the headline, adding in her post: "We believe in freedom, responsibility and choice."

(Image: Mirror Screen Grab)

Her declaration that the Tories are the 'natural party of working classes' caused fury online, with a number of people pointing out Conservative policies that have negatively impacted the poorest in society.

Keith Mullin, from Liverpool band The Farm, said: "Constantly voted for austerity and to punish hard-working people. Throwing the word 'freedom' into an article does not mean you care for hard-working people. Freedom for you means someone else will suffer."

Robert Slonka said: "Yeah right. Boris Johnson, Jacob Rees Mogg, Zac Goldsmith, John Redwood are the champions of working people."

Other responses called McVey 'out of touch' and 'deluded' for her comments on the Tory Party and the working classes.

One Twitter user asked: "Remind me Esther how many people with terminal illness how been declared 'fit for work'?"

Mark H said: "Jesus wept. You are the party of looking after the wealthy and influential. Always have been, always will do. Just admit it. You are not for the poor at all."

Esther McVey lost her previous seat - Wirral West - to Margaret Greenwood in the 2015 General Election by just 417 votes, resulting in the Tories losing their last MP on Merseyside.

But in the run up to 2017’s snap election she was selected to run in the safe Conservative seat of Tatton, in Cheshire, most recently vacated by George Osborne, and inherited a thumping majority of more than 14,000.

Over the years, Ms McVey made a number of controversial comments which turned her into a lightning rod for anger about benefits and food banks.

She was a key defender of the bedroom tax, launched by the Tories in April 2013, which saw people landed with higher rent for “extra” rooms.

Ms McVey’s comments on foodbanks also caused outrage, she once described the rise of desperate families using the emergency services as ‘positive’.

Responding to furious heckles in the House of Commons, she said: “The community has come together to support one another - that must be a positive move.”