Getting disabled people back into work would help make the current benefits system less complicated, according to Conservative party leader David Cameron.

However, Labour politicians rubbished Mr Cameron's claims, saying he the unemployment figures he drew on were "wildly inflated" in order to suggest that workers with serious disabilities could be forced back into the employment market.

In his speech, Mr Cameron suggested abandoning application forms that differentiated between disabled people and instead introducing one single benefit for all people with disabilities.

The self-proclaimed champion for disabled people – Mr Cameron has a son with cerebral palsy – the Tory leader also stressed how the Disability Act, which makes it illegal for employers to turn down someone for a job on the basis of a physical impediment, was introduced under ex prime minister John Major.

Rebuffing the claims, employment minister Jim Murphy retaliated: "David Cameron has today shown serious misjudgement in seeking headlines by wildly inflating the unemployment figures.

"[His] inaccurate and irresponsible claims will frighten people whose health conditions mean they need increased support to get back to work, and he will worry mothers by seeming to suggest they should looking for work as soon as their child is born."


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