ATTACKING the vulnerable has been “encouraged and rewarded” by the Establishment, disability-rights campaigners claimed today after it was announced that Iain Duncan Smith will be knighted.

Disabled people’s advocates expressed their horror at the news that Mr Duncan Smith, who was the architect of the hated universal credit (UC) policy, has featured in the New Year’s Honours list.

Mr Duncan Smith, who was the Tory Party leader from 2001 to 2003 before being replaced by Michael Howard, was awarded the knighthood for his contributions to “public and political service.”