DAVID CAMERON ruled out another U-turn last night, despite a row over benefit cuts that Labour warned would take £94 a week from thousands of cancer victims.

The Prime Minister came under fire in the Commons over the plans to means-test sickness benefit after 12 months and withdraw it from any claimant whose spouse or partner earns £150 a week.

Labour leader Ed Miliband said a cancer charity had warned that 7,000 cancer patients would be affected, and asked Mr Cameron: “How can that be right?”

Mr Miliband said: “Those are people who have worked hard all their lives, who have done the right thing and paid their taxes, yet, when they are in need, the Prime Minister is taking money away from them.”

In reply, Mr Cameron floundered, apparently not understanding the change – part of the flagship Welfare Reform Bill, being debated last night – being referred to. He was later accused of insulting cancer patients, branding the issue a distraction and a smokescreen to try to mask Labour’s refusal to get tough on rising welfare bills.

Mr Cameron told MPs: “The whole point of our benefit reforms is that there are proper medical tests so that we support those who cannot work, as a generous, tolerant and compassionate country should.

“But we will make sure that those who can work have to go out to work, so that we do not reward bad behaviour. That is what the Bill is about.

“The leader of the Opposition is attempting to put up a smokescreen because he has been found out.”

The Department for Work and Pensions confirmed that cancer victims could lose employment and support allowance (ESA) after 12 months, from next April, under the means test.

However, no one receiving chemotherapy or radiotherapy would lose the benefit.

Until February, patients between courses of chemotherapy could have been penalised, but the rules were changed after recommendations by an independent review.

Macmillan Cancer Support quickly backed Mr Miliband, saying: “Many cancer patients will lose this crucial benefit simply because they have not recovered quickly enough.”

But No 10 said ministers would not back down. A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: “We are pressing ahead with these changes.”

Asked if Mr Cameron would apologise for his attitude towards cancer victims, he said: “This is not about attitudes towards cancer victims, this is about reforming a broken welfare system.”

No figure has been given for the costs associated with delaying the means-testing of ESA until after two years, as Labour had demanded.