Poor families could take in lodger to beat benefit cap – minister

Tory attacked as out of touch for saying families living in poverty could renegotiate rent

Labour and poverty charities have condemned a government minister as out of touch after he suggested that families living in poverty because of the benefit cap could consider taking in a lodger to make ends meet.

Justin Tomlinson, the junior work and pensions minister, told a committee of MPs that other ways families could cope with the impact of the cap would be to move, or to seek to renegotiate their rent.