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The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions made a secret visit to Liverpool today.

After a flying trip to Bootle Job Centre this morning, Dr Thérèse Coffey then headed to Toxteth to meet with DWP staff at the centre there.

News of the minister's visit to our region was not made public and the ECHO was not invited to come along and interview her.

Thankfully, we were tipped off about her arrival in the city - and were able to quiz her on a questionable voting record that has seen her continually vote for policies that have made the lives of vulnerable people in this city and beyond more difficult.

The Tory MP, who represents the Suffolk Coastal constituency, was appointed to the cabinet role in September, replacing Amber Rudd.

A Liverpool FC fan, she was born in Billinge in St Helens but actually grew up in Liverpool.

But her views and voting record are unlikely to chime with many people around here.

Dr Coffey cites Margaret Thatcher as a hero and has previously backed the hated Bedroom Tax and voted in favour of cutting benefits for the disabled and cutting Universal Credit.

She also strongly opposed the introduction of same-sex marriage in England and Wales in 2013.

We caught up with the Secretary of State today to ask her about that record and about the problems with benefits that are having a major impact on people in Merseyside - such as the 5-week wait for Universal Credit claims to be processed, which has pushed many people into a cycle of poverty.

When we asked her if she would be looking to end that 5-week wait, Dr Coffey said: "No, I don't think we are going to change that."

Asked about voting to cut benefits for the disabled, she appeared to suggest that wasn't true.

She then added: "People are getting advance payments, instead of getting 12 monthly payments, they can get 13.

"The elements of getting 13 payments over a year instead of 12, we are looking to extend it to a 16 month advance.

"That's the sort of principle to help get people into a monthly salary like yourself."

One local person stood outside the job centre told Dr Coffey that she should be ashamed.

This was a view echoed by Dan Lewis, secretary of Bootle Labour, he was protesting as Dr Coffey visited the Bootle job centre today.

He said: "Coffey’s visit is a perfect example of how the Tories hold no accountability, visiting job centres in some of the most deprived communities without notice so she can’t be questioned by the people suffering and dying under the draconian laws she voted for.

"Coffey’s voting record speaks for itself and does not reflect the views of the great people of Merseyside where we care for each other and continue to protect our communities against Coffey and her friends in parliament like here in Litherland where the L21 community network are helping make sure that people have access to services and basic necessities that the council are unable to provide after 10 years of austerity and over 50% of their budget being cut.

"Coffey should be ashamed that in in the same place she went to school, she now has to hide from local people."