Political opinion: Kevin McNally Workers Party representative calls on Northern Ireland MPs to stand firm against the government welfare bill

Mr McNally said: "Personal independence payments are there to help those who are in need of additional support regardless of when the disability occurs. The Workers Party will continue to call for a no vote on Tuesday.

"It is unconscionable that the government is prepared to spend 5% of the GDP on weapons and bombs, but wants the most vulnerable in our society to pick up the bill."

Mr McNally said that despite claims by the government that the welfare budget needed reformed because spending was spiralling out of control, a minister has admitted to the commons work and pensions committee that spending is stable and has remained at about 5% of GDP for the last decade.

"The minister also accepted that the rise in the number of personal independence payments recipients had been due to demographic change, the nation’s poor health, and the increase in the state pension age," he said.

"The Workers Party is of the view that numbers have risen because of financial pressures and the cost of living crisis."

He added: "Claims by ministers, politicians and the media on social security spending are false and ideological and are being used by the government to introduce cuts to welfare benefits. MPs should oppose the bill and vote no on Tuesday."