Tory David Gauke has been forced to make a humiliating u-turn on the Tories' 55p a minute Universal Credit helpline.

The Work and Pensions secretary bowed to public pressure and revealed this morning that all DWP phone lines will be made free within three months.

It comes a week after Jeremy Corbyn blasted the Prime Minister after it emerged the DWP charged claimants struggling with the bungled rollout of the benefits shake-up up to 55p a minute.

He said: "Will the PM show some humanity and at least make the helpline free?”

Mrs May wouldn't be drawn on the cost of the helpline, but insisted: "I do want to get people into work. I want people to get on without government support.”

David Gauke has agreed to make the helpline free (
Image:
PA)

Speaking after Prime Minister's Questions last week a senior Downing Street source rebuffed calls to cut the 55p fee.The source said: "As I understand it, most of the issues can be resolved online.

"But if there are issues where people feel they need to call the hotline and they are concerned about the cost, they can say straight away and DWP will ring them back so there is no cost."

But speaking at the Work and Pensions Select Committee today, David Gauke said: "I have decided that this will change to a free phone number over the next month."

Mr Gauke added: "I will be extending the freephone numbers to all of DWP's phone lines by the end of the year"

It comes as Theresa May faces a backbench rebellion on the rollout, which the Citizens Advice Bureau have branded a "disaster waiting to happen."

Universal Credit, which combines six working age benefits into a single payment, has proved controversial because one in five people are forced to wait more than six weeks for their first payment.

Even people paid “on time” have to wait up to six weeks.

Around 25 Tory MPs are understood to be ready to rebel in an opposition vote on Universal Credit later today.

The motion calls for the rollout to be halted until the failings in the system can be ironed out.

While the vote is non-binding, it would be an embarrassing defeat for the government.