450,000 sign petition for Iain Duncan Smith to live off £53 a week

Nearly half a million people have called for Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith to live off £53 a week for a year in a petition being delivered to his office.

The petition, bearing 450,000 names, will be delivered to the Department of Work and Pensions at 10.15am by protesters angry at sweeping welfare reforms and the Cabinet minister’s claim he could live off the amount if he had to.

Mr Duncan Smith has already dismissed the petition as “a complete stunt”.

Musician and part-time shop worker Dominic Aversano, from Twickenham, near London, started the petition on campaigning website Change.org.

He will deliver the petition to Caxton House in Tothill Street with disability campaigners who say they are at the sharp end of welfare reforms.

Mr Aversano, 28, said: “When I started this petition I never imagined the level of support it would get, and the amount of encouragement people would give me.

“It has sent a powerful message to this Government, showing the level of opposition to their vicious welfare cuts.”

Brie Rogers Lowery, UK director of Change.org said: “This is a remarkable campaign.”