Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has suggested Theresa May see new Ken Loach film I, Daniel Blake for an insight into the "institutional barbarity" of the welfare system.

Speaking at Prime Minister's Questions on Wednesday, the Labour leader cited a study by Sheffield Hallam University that a fifth of benefit claimants who are sanctioned end up homeless as a result.

The new film explores the difficulties people experience when using the welfare system in the UK, which is characterised as impersonal and difficult to access.

Corbyn also recommended the Prime Minister take her work and pensions secretary Damian Green with her to the cinema.

On Monday, Green branded the film's depiction of the benefits system "monstrously unfair" before admitting he hadn't seen it.

May hit back by claiming the Labour party was "drifting away from the views of Labour voters", arguing measures such as benefit sanctions and work capability assessments were necessary to instil public confidence in the welfare system.

Corbyn told the Prime Minister: "One in five claimants that have been sanctioned became homeless as a result of it. Many of those included families with children.

"Could I recommend the Prime Minister supports British cinema and take herself along to the cinema to see a Palme d'Or-winning film - I, Daniel Blake?

"And while she's doing so, perhaps she could take the work and pensions secretary with her, because he described the film as monstrously unfair - and then went on to admit he'd never seen it. So he's obviously got a very fair sense of judgment on this."

He added: "But I'll tell the Prime Minister what's monstrously unfair - ex-servicemen like David Clapson dying without food in his home due to the government's sanctions regime.

"It is time that we ended this institutionalised barbarity against often very vulnerable people."

Mr Clapson, a diabetic, died in 2014 due to a lack of insulin 18 days after having his jobseekers allowance suspended.

The former soldier's family gathered more than 200,000 signatures for a petition demanding an inquiry into the benefit sanctions system.

May replied: "Of course it's important that in our welfare system we ensure those who need the support the state is giving them through that benefits system are able to access that.

"But it's also important in our system that those in our system who are paying for it feel that the system is fair to them as well.

"That is right, that is why we need to have work capability assessments, it's why we need to have sanctions in our system."

She added: "Now, you have a view that there should be no assessments, no sanctions and unlimited welfare.

"I have to say to you that the Labour Party is drifting away from the views of Labour voters. It's this party that understands working-class people."