Chancellor George Osborne has linked the case of child killer Mick Philpott to the need for reform of the benefits system, questioning why taxpayers were funding "lifestyles like that".

Mr Osborne, who has been leading the Government's defence of its sweeping welfare changes, stressed that Philpott was responsible for his "absolutely horrendous" crimes.

But he said there was a "question for government and for society" about the benefits that allowed Philpott to live the way he did.

Philpott, who was jailed for a minimum term of 15 years today for killing six of his children, lived in a council house in Derby, claimed thousands of pounds in benefit and refused to get a job.

His wife Mairead and friend Paul Mosley were both jailed for 17 years after being found guilty of six counts of manslaughter.

When asked on a visit to Derby if the Philpotts were a product of Britain's benefit system, Mr Osborne said: "Philpott is responsible for these absolutely horrendous crimes, these are crimes that have shocked the nation. The courts are responsible for sentencing.

"But I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state, and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state, subsidising lifestyles like that. And I think that debate needs to be had."

Critics have attacked the Government's wholesale changes to the welfare system which enter into force this month.

Earlier this week the Chancellor hit back at opponents of the changes, accusing them of talking "ill-informed rubbish".

In the face of growing pressure from churches, charities and opposition parties, Mr Osborne said suggestions the changes marked the end of the welfare state were "shrill, headline-seeking nonsense".

With the Government keen to reduce the welfare bill a raft of changes are being introduced this month, including an average £14-a-week cut in housing benefit for council tenants deemed to have a spare room - dubbed the "bedroom tax" by opponents.

Wider welfare and tax changes will also see council tax benefit funding cut, and working-age benefits and tax credit rises pegged at 1% - well below inflation - for three years.

Disability living allowance (DLA) is being replaced by the personal independence payment (PIP), while trials are due to begin in four London boroughs of a £500-a-week cap on household benefits, and of the new Universal Credit system.

Labour MP Andy McDonald accused Mr Osborne of trying to make to make political capital out of the Philpott case.

The Middlesbrough MP said the Chancellor's comments were a "total disgrace" and the case was entirely separate from the wider debate about welfare.

He said: "It just demonstrates how out of touch George Osborne is. He may as well make adverse comments about the entire population of a town or a religion, it's absolute nonsense.

"It just shows the depths to which they are prepared to stoop in demonising people who find themselves in difficult circumstances."

The debate over the welfare system is a "completely separate discussion, it should not be had in the context of the most appalling crime of a father killing his six children", he said.

Labour's Dame Anne Begg, who chairs the Commons Work and Pensions Select Committee, told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "It was an evil act and I don't think we should be making policy on the back of a very exceptional case."

Shadow minister without portfolio Lord Wood, a senior adviser to Labour leader Ed Miliband, said on Twitter: "I can't help but feel it's wrong for Osborne to exploit our horror at the Philpott case to try to boost public support for cutting welfare."

Asked whether he thought the Philpotts were indicative of the type of people on benefits, Mr Osborne said again that there was "a debate" to be had and added that the Government was acting on what he called "these kinds of lifestyles".

During a tour of Marston's Brewery in Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, he said: "I think the question for Government and society, if you like, is a broader one about the welfare state and a question we ask on behalf of the taxpayer about whether we should be subsidising these kinds of lifestyles.

"We will be taking steps under this Government - for example, a cap on benefits so no family out of work gets more than a family in work, and that cap is set at £26,000.

"We've already taken important steps and we're taking further steps this month to make sure benefits don't go up faster than wages.

"But, I think there's a debate to be had, and that debate is now under way."

Shadow work and pensions minister Stephen Timms accused Mr Osborne of acting "cynically".

He said: "Mick Philpott's crimes were terrible. Everyone should be clear that responsibility for these evil acts rests with him and the others sentenced today.

"It is wrong to link those acts with the debate about welfare and George Osborne should not be doing so, even implicitly.

"Millions of people including pensioners and the disabled, people in work and out of work, receive benefits and tax credits.

"The Government needs to recognise that they are as shocked and disgusted by the callous killing of these children as anyone else in Britain.

"We need action to tackle the scourge of long term-unemployment, which is why Labour is calling for a compulsory jobs guarantee, but today is not the day to seek to divide people in this way and Mr Osborne should not be cynically doing so."

Unite general secretary Len McCluskey said: "It is sickening to see George Osborne exploiting the evil of one man and the death of six children to try and demonise ordinary law-abiding people who are struggling to get by.

"He has demeaned his high office to sow hate in a desperate attempt to sell his so-called 'reforms' which are making 11.5 million households poorer while millionaires get tax breaks averaging £100,000.

"Evil exists in all sections of society from the wealthy to the poor. You have to ask would George Osborne and the Tories be seeking to demonise the wealthy with the same vigour if Philpott had been a millionaire?"