The Prime Minister and Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor, are under to pressure to extend the £20-a-week boost to the benefit, introduced to help families through the Covid crisis, which is due to wind-up at the end of March.

Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi rubbished the opposition day debate as "a political stunt", saying: "This debate today has no real impact on the outcome on those families, other than a political little stunt for Labour."

Conservative MPs are expected to abstain. However, with widespread unhappiness about the handling of previous issues such as free school meals, as well as lockdown sceptics looking to take advantage of the opportunity to inflict a bloody nose, some could side with Labour if they do not receive assurances that it will be extended in the March Budget or before.

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