The Tory chairman was blasted today for saying Brits who can’t afford soaring bills can cut back their spending or get a “new job”.
Jake Berry was accused of “living on another planet” as he defended tax cuts for the rich in Liz Truss’s mini-Budget.
He told Sky News Tory policy was about “the right motivation and in truth, it’s how households work.
“People know that when their bills arrive, they can either cut their consumption or they can get a higher salary, higher wages, go out there and get that new job.
“That’s the approach the government is taking so households can afford their bills.”
He tried to defend plans to cut back public spending - and refused to rule out real-terms cuts to benefits next April.
Mr Berry said: “I think every household understands that actually the reason this government is going for growth is because when you are struggling with your household budget, as many households are, you need to grow your personal household budget.”
He added: “There is going to be a drive to trim fat in terms of government expenditure.”
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea fumed: "The government is living on another planet.
"The super-rich are gifted colossal tax cuts, while the low-paid are threatened with benefit sanctions and told to find better paid work.
"Essential services are losing experienced people at alarming rates. Below-inflation wage rises have fuelled the exodus as staff up sticks for jobs offering more money and a lot less stress.
"If more key workers take the government's advice, there'll soon be no one left to run our hospitals, schools and care homes.”
Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner added: “These comments show just how out of touch with reality Liz Truss’s Tories are.
“Jake Berry thinks people consigned to low pay can simply magically upgrade to a higher wage job. This is a Tory crisis: created in Downing Street, paid for by working people.
"While the Tories arrogantly blame working people and tell them once again to “get on your bike”, Labour has a plan to end in-work poverty with a genuine living wage for all. We’ll make Britain work for working people.”
Senior Labour MP Chris Bryant said: "Do Tories think people haven’t tried this?"
NEU joint General Secretary Dr Mary Bousted tweeted: "Unbelievable - deranged- deluded - divorced from reality for millions of people working for their poverty."
