Nick Clegg showed his true colours on Thursday when defending the government's welfare cuts, claiming benefits are not there to "compensate the poor."
The UK Deputy PM made the "outrageous" comments after Lib Dem backbenchers attacked the coalition for targeting the vulnerable and accused Mr Clegg of breaking promises to ensure all cuts were fair.
Chancellor George Osborne is expected to slash billions of pounds from the welfare budget next month when he unveils the coalition's spending review.
Left Lib Dem activists are expected to make their anger heard as the party gathers in Liverpool tomorrow for its annual conference, the first major Lib Dem gathering since the party's pact with the Tories.
Mr Clegg said: "Welfare needs to become an engine of mobility, changing people's lives for the better, rather than a giant cheque written by the state to compensate the poor."
Around £11 billion has already been slashed from benefits in June's emergency Budget.
And Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has admitted there will be even more savings in the forthcoming spending review, although he has denied claims he has already lined up £4bn of welfare cuts.
Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn branded Mr Clegg's comments "disgusting" and "outrageous."
He said: "Mr Clegg would be well-placed on the Tory front bench of 1909.
"It is shocking that he has made these comments as a leader who supposedly supports the welfare state. He should read more about the history of his party and what it supposedly stands for."
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