Braintree's MP has been asked to resign as patron of a charity after voting to cut benefits for disabled people.

James Cleverly was one of the 311 MPs who voted to force through a planned £30 a week cut to disability benefit.

The House of Lords had attempted to reject the cuts, which apply to new claimaints, and carry out an impact assessment into the impact.

Charities have warned the cut to the Employment and Support Allowance would make it hard for disabled people to find work and afford food.

However, the House of Lords were forced to let the cuts go ahead after ministers claimed financial privilege, meaning that Lords are not allowed to intervene.

Mr Cleverly is a patron of Advocacy for All, a charity which supports vulnerable people to make their voice heard, working in South East England.

Vivienne Lester, chief executive officer of Advocacy for All, said: “Advocacy for All were disappointed and surprised to learn that our patron, James Cleverly and other prominent MP’s have voted for £30 per week cuts to ESA benefits.

“This will have a profound and detrimental affect on the lives of disabled people and the quality of their lives.

“It will severely impact on all areas of their lives and could leave them isolated and disconnected from the rest of the community.

“As the patron of a charity for disabled people, we would have expected James Cleverly to have consulted with our members and clients to get their views on the difference these cuts will make to their daily lives.

“Advocacy for All have given James Cleverly the opportunity to meet with trustees to inform them as to how he reached his decision to vote for these cuts.

“They have also asked him to resign as patron of Advocacy for All with immediate effect and to remove any reference to Advocacy for All from his website and other platforms.”

Mr Cleverly responded: “I am going to speak to the charity to explain my position.

“I will respect their decision at the end of that discussion.

“When they asked me to be their patron about five years ago, I was very happy to do so.

“One of the things that hasn’t come across in the bullying tweets and media reports is that no-one who currently received ESA is going to lose a penny.

“It is only for new claimants from 2017 and the money saved is going to be spent on providing employment support and training to help disabled people back into work, which is what the majority of disabled people want and what Advocacy for All is trying to achieve.

“I hope that when I explain my position to them, they will understand.”