The architect of Labour's controversial welfare reform programme is to join the Conservative party, it has been reported.
In a serious blow to the government's welfare credentials, David Freud has reportedly resigned in order to become a Tory frontbench spokesman.
He is expected to be given a peerage and named shadow welfare minister by David Cameron next week.
A source told the Guardian: "David and George [Osborne] have been talking to him a lot about the economy, but also obviously about welfare
