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George Osborne today seized on the Philpott manslaughter scandal to attack the benefits system.

The Chancellor said: “Mick Philpott is responsible for these crimes that have shocked the nation.

“The courts are responsible for sentencing, but I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state, subsidising lifestyles like that. I think that debate needs to be had.”

But his rant caused outrage.

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: “It is sickening to see George Osborne exploiting the evil of one man and the death of six children to demonise ordinary law-abiding people struggling to get by.”

Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls said: “His calculated decision to use the shocking and vile crimes of Mick Philpott to advance a political argument is the cynical act of a desperate Chancellor.

"We should have a proper debate about welfare reform. But for the Chancellor to link the wider debate to this shocking crime is nasty and divisive and demeans his office.”

Philpott, a dad of 17, took benefits and pay from his wife and mistress worth more than £42,000 a year.