Benefits charity Turn2Us challenged Tory claims that the economy was improving yesterday after revealing working families were being plunged further into poverty.

The charity carried out a survey which showed that 57 per cent of low-income workers survey said they felt that feel their financial situation has worsened in the last year.

It reveals that working households spend half their monthly income on utility bills and food, while outgoings outweigh earnings for nearly two-fifths of families.