TORY plans for tax cuts for the wealthy would “take food out of the mouths of very poor people”, Liberal Democrat MP Mike Thornton says.

Speaking to the Daily Echo at the party’s conference in Glasgow, the Eastleigh MP branded George Osborne’s proposals “ridiculous” and unacceptable to his party.

And he said: “I believe lower taxes are good for the economy – but not tax cuts for the wealthy, at the expense of looking after those who are not well off.

“It’s not appropriate to cut the top rate of income tax lower than 45p and it’s not appropriate to raise the threshold for the 40p rate as fast as Cameron wants to do it.

“You shouldn’t do that by freezing benefits for people who can’t afford to buy lunch on a Saturday, by taking food out of the mouths of very poor people.”

Mr Thornton spoke after the Chancellor announced a two-year freeze to all working age benefits if the Tories win the election, to save £3.2bn a year.

The real-terms cut would include tax credits, hitting 11,900 in work, but low-paid, households in Southampton, of which 10,200 are families with children.

At the same time, David Cameron announced a £1.6bn tax cut for higher earners, pledging to hike the threshold for paying 40p income tax from £41,865 to £50,000 by 2020.

Yesterday, Mr Thornton’s comments about the Conservatives were echoed by Nick Clegg, who accused them of “beating up on the poor”.

The Lib Dem leader accused Mr Cameron’s party of “burying compassionate conservatism” and said they would have to accept tax hikes on the rich.

Mr Clegg told the BBC: “The Liberal Democrats are not going to enter into government with an economic agenda which would only penalise the working-age poor. It is anathema to everything we believe in.

The comments came on day two of the Lib Dem conference, which also saw: * Vince Cable announce plans for a pay rise for first-year apprentices - from £2.73 to £3.79 – if the Low Pay Commission backs the move.

Lib Dems vote to end prison sentences for drug possession.

• Pensions minister Steve Webb call for slashing the £37bn spent on pension tax relief, which overwhelmingly benefits the rich.

• Lib Dems vote for children to be taught emergency first aid in primary and secondary schools.