CHANCELLOR George Osborne cynically claimed to “protect” the most vulnerable yesterday in a desparate bid to play down anger over his cuts to disability benefits.

Facing another humiliating Tory rebellion, a panicked Mr Osborne promised to consult disability charities about the proposed cut to personal independence payments.

“Let me be absolutely clear — this government will always protect the most vulnerable and help disabled people,” he claimed. “So in the coming months we will be talking to colleagues, to disability charities, to make sure we get this absolutely right.”