Trade unionists accused the coalition of being “out of touch” yesterday after Conservative MPs tried to intimidate charities speaking out for the poor.

Unite Community — which organises people who can not or are currently out of work — criticised a Department of Work and Pensions official who threatened food bank charity Trussell Trust with closure.

Unite Community national coordinator Lian Groves: “Instead of attacking an organisation that is providing a safety net to millions of people he should look at solutions to make food banks unnecessary.”