A CONSERVATIVE MP has sparked outrage online after telling a constituent to "get a life" when questioned over sick pay rules.

Pauline Latham, who earns nearly £80,000 as an MP, was asked on Twitter if she could live on £94-a-week statutory sick pay (SSP).

Twitter user @ML1Hughes messaged her saying: "Hi @Pauline_Latham, is £94 a week SSP enough to live on? How could you manage on it?"

The Tory responded simply: "Get a life."

The Mid Derbyshire MP is now one of the biggest trending topics on the social media site.

One former MP, Chris Williamson, called the comment "shocking" and "insensitive".

He wrote: A shocking, insensitive and unacceptable response from local MP @Pauline_Latham to a concerned constituent's anxiety about how to manage on £94 statutory sick pay if he falls ill and has to take time off work because of the #CoronavirusOutbreak"

The Socialist Voice account was also critical of the MP's post.

They wrote: "Tory MP Pauline Latham, who is paid nearly £80,000 a year, tells constituent concerned about coronavirus to ‘get a life’ when challenged whether she could live on sick pay of £94 a week. This is the attitude some Tory MPs have towards their constituents during a national crisis"

Latham tweeted earlier today to explain the situation. She wrote: "I must apologise for the Tweet to a constituent over the weekend. At the time, I was in Spain in a state of distress having just visited my brother who is suffering from acute dementia. Very sadly, we could not bring him home to the UK because of Coronavirus. 1/2

"At this time of stress, I received a Tweet from what I perceived to be a keyboard warrior and it pushed me over the edge. I am very sorry I reacted so hastily. 2/2"

She also posted to say: "My response was purely towards keyboard warriors who so often attack but don't respond with anything. I am entirely sympathetic towards those in receipt of statutory sick pay, particularly in this stressful time."