Richard Tice has suggested mental health is the modern equivalent of back pain in a fiery clash with a member of the public. Reform’s deputy leader took part in a phone-in on LBC on Thursday afternoon where he was asked about disabilities amid the Government’s welfare reforms.

In response, he said: “Disabilities where you are unable to work. Serious mental health is horrific, none of us should underestimate that. There are people using mental health as a modern day equivalent of back pain. Work is a good thing, being busy is a good thing, it’s good for your self esteem and your family.”

He added: “We’ve got to make work pay.” But the furious caller hit back by declaring he was “shaking with anger”.

The man said: “I’m sorry but that is so laughably offensive and horrendous to say, that we have to make up all the hard work because employers like you, employers that work for us – public bodies and services – do not give us support.

“And they have not done it for 20 years. The Tories have failed. Labour has failed. Everybody has failed. You just want us to work and not act like our feelings, our pain…

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“Calling it ‘back pain’ – how dare you call my symptoms and diagnosis back pain?”

Mr Tice went on to say there are “far too many people using symptoms through online assessments”. The MP said: “There is a danger we are over-labelling too many things, and over-medicating.” He went on to add: “Work is a good thing.”

The clash comes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s overhauls the nation’s welfare system. Her plans hope to help get people who can work back into employment.

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This Government is increasing investment in mental health care by an extra £320 million in real terms, meeting the Mental Health Investment Standard.

“This includes funding to recruit 8,500 staff across mental health services, expanding mental health support in schools and investing in new mental health crisis centres – helping deliver our Plan for Change to ensure everyone can access the care they need.