PM pressed to scrap welfare reforms

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In a joint statement, they said rising unemployment meant a "fundamental rethink" was required, pointing out that a senior Government adviser had also urged a halt to the changes.

PM Gordon Brown has signalled his intention to press ahead with reforms, arguing they are all the more important in an economic downturn.

But in their appeal, his opponents said: "Many of the plans were unacceptable when they were first published and the worsening economic situation should lead to a fundamental rethink."

Among the signatories are the general secretaries of the GMB and PCS unions, Paul Kenny and Mark Serwotka, representatives of bodies such as the UK Coalition Against Poverty, the National Carers Forum, Church Action on Poverty and Get Fair Coalition, and two professors of social policy.

They said: "The Government's proposals remove entitlements and fail to value the important work of parents and carers.

"Parents with young children, carers, the sick, the disabled, people with mental health problems and other vulnerable groups face tougher tests to qualify for benefits. If they fail they could be cut off with no support."

Moves to force people to work for benefits should be scrapped, they said, along with moves to increase the involvement of the private sector, expected to be included in next week's Queen's Speech.

Eileen Devaney, national co-ordinator of the UK Coalition Against Poverty, said: "We fully support the campaign. Our aim is an adequate income for all, and we do not believe the welfare reform proposals can achieve this. In fact, we see many aspects of them as an attack on human rights."