A new Tory peer has criticised the Government's child benefit cuts - saying they give the poor more incentive to have children than the better-off.
Former party vice-chair Howard Flight told London's Evening Standard that taking the benefit away from top taxpayers would mean they were "discouraged from breeding".
"But for those on benefits, there is every incentive. Well, that's not very sensible," he told the newspaper.
The remarks were swiftly rejected by Downing Street.
Prime Minister David Cameron's spokeswoman said: "He is not a member of the Government, he is not a frontbencher, he does not speak for the Government and we do not agree with his comments."
Mr Flight was named just days ago by Mr Cameron as one of several new additions to the Tory ranks in the House of Lords - where he is yet to take his seat.
The ex-MP was forced to resign as vice-chairman after being taped before the 2005 general election suggesting the Tories had secret spending cut plans.
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