Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey has resigned from the advisory board of the Samaritans after accusations of hypocrisy.

While serving as minister for disabled people under David Cameron, McVey was accused of introducing benefit sanctions to force people with disabilities into work.

Unions and disability rights groups said the policy was driving desperate people to suicide.

The Morning Star reports that trade unionists and other activists expressed concern when Theresa May made McVey work and pensions secretary in January. They were also aghast to discover she had joined the advisory board of the charity, which offers help for people contemplating suicide. Now the Samaritans has announced that the cabinet minister has stepped down from the role “due to her commitments” in government.

McVey’s appointment as the secretary of state responsible for work and health and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) had earlier been criticised because of her link to a dangerous firm. She had served as director at her family’s demolition company at a time the firm had was found by the Health and Safety Executive to have committed a number of criminal safety breaches so serious work had to be stopped immediately.