ES News email The latest headlines in your inbox twice a day Monday - Friday plus breaking news updates Enter your email address Continue Please enter an email address Email address is invalid Fill out this field Email address is invalid You already have an account. Please log in Register with your social account or click here to log in I would like to receive lunchtime headlines Monday - Friday plus breaking news alerts, by email Update newsletter preferences

A Tory MP promoted in Theresa May's reshuffle has apologised over a blog post suggesting benefit claimants should have vasectomies.

Ben Bradley, who was named as Conservative vice chairman for youth, said people on welfare should stop having children if they could not afford them, before suggesting sterilisation.

The Mansfield MP, 28, was writing in support of the benefits cap and suggested it would not be long "before we're drowning in a vast sea of unemployed wasters".

After the post on the personal blog, consbradders32, was highlighted by BuzzFeed News, it was deleted.

"Sorry but how many children you have is a choice; if you can't afford them, stop having them! Vasectomies are free," it read.

"Families who have never worked a day in their lives having four or five kids and the rest of us having one or two means it's not long before we're drowning in a vast sea of unemployed wasters that we pay to keep!"

Mr Bradley said he had matured since posting the blog in 2012 and was sorry for the comments.

He said: "I apologise for these posts. My time in politics has allowed me to mature and I now realise that this language is not appropriate."

Cat Smith, shadow minister for youth affairs, said: "These repulsive comments expose the Tories' disgraceful attitude to unemployed people.

"That they come from a man Theresa May chose as a vice chair of her party speaks volumes. The nasty party is alive and well."