MP Mhairi Black has called on the Labour Party to "turn over a new leaf" and join forces with the SNP to oppose Tory plans for further welfare cuts.

The Paisley and Renfrewshire South MP hit out at plans by Labour MPs to abstain on the Welfare Reform and Work Bill if their party's amendments to it fail, saying their constituents are looking to them to take action.

Labour have rejected her calls, claiming abstention is the best way forward for the party as they agree with some parts of the Bill - which will receive its second reading in the House of Commons tomorrow - and disagree with others.

Speaking just days after her emphatic maiden speech, Miss Black said: "This week Labour party have the perfect opportunity to turn over a new leaf and join forces with the SNP to form the strong opposition we badly need. It is not enough for Labour simply to abstain on this Bill – they must join us in voting against it.

"To every Labour MP who has seen the impact of Tory welfare policies on their constituents I say this: your constituents are looking to you to grab this opportunity with both hands."

The Bill includes plans to cut the household benefits cap and limit child tax credits to two children per family.

Labour's amendment to it opposes the abolition of child poverty targets and changes to Employment and Support Allowance, however the party has offered to back the household welfare cap and plans to move mortgage support from grants to loans.

It makes no mention of the child tax credit change.

The SNP have also tabled amendments against the cuts it proposes.

Miss Black's comments came as new figures from the Scottish Government confirmed benefit sanctions by the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) are hitting young people and lone parents the hardest.

Briefings published by the government show that young people account for more than 40 per cent of all Job Seekers Allowance (JSA) sanction decisions, while the number of sanctions imposed on lone parents increased by almost 43 per cent between 2010 and 2014.

More than a quarter of all JSA claimants sanctioned are also disabled.

The 20-year-old has now called for a moratorium on the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) "indefensible" sanctions while an urgent independent review of the policy is carried out.

She said: "Westminster’s sanctioning and conditionality regime is causing misery for people right across Scotland – leaving many people unable to afford basics like food for weeks at a time as part of a right-wing ideological Tory crusade to demonise the unemployed.

"These new figures from the Scottish Government show that young people and single parents are all being hit hardest by these indiscriminate, inhumane and completely indefensible sanctions.

"The SNP has already been clear that there needs to be an immediate root and branch review of the UK Government’s conditionality and sanctions regime - and that the DWP should not be allowed to impose any more unfair sanctions on vulnerable people while the review is ongoing.

“The Work and Pensions Select Committee has already twice called for a review and yet the UK Government has done absolutely nothing – which is exactly why I’ll be using my place on the committee to highlight the appalling impact of sanctions every step of the way."

An independent review has also been backed by front-line organisations such as Citizens Advice Scotland, the Church of Scotland and other charities – but Miss Black added that more devolved powers are needed to ensure Scotland is protected.

"We need more than a review of some of the worst aspects of the social security system", she said. "We need the powers here in Scotland to put a stop to this relentless assault on vulnerable people and to design a system which truly supports and empowers people into work, rather than punishing them.

"The Tories have shown time and time again that they can’t be trusted to take decisions on social security on Scotland’s behalf – and it’s time that these crucial powers are in Scotland’s hands, rather than Iain Duncan Smith’s."