Ashdown: I cannot accept this

Paddy Ashdown, former leader of the Liberal Democrats, comments on the the benefits cap to Sky News:

"I have voted with the government on everything until now. I see my job as ex-leader to support my successor, but I will not support the benefits cap in its present form. This legislation, in its present form, I cannot accept.

"I am president of Unicef, and I think the effect on children across the country of a cap in its present form will be completely unacceptable.

"I know that Nick Clegg is fighting very, very hard for transition arrangements to be put in place."