Nicola Sturgeon was moved by the heartbreaking Helen’s Letter and wrote to the couple affected

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was touched to write a letter of support to Helen and David.

The plight of a couple who feel badly let down by the welfare system has moved politician Nicola Sturgeon to write to them.

In recent weeks The Sunday Post has highlighted the desperate case of Helen and David Stuart who have had their lives torn apart by unemployment which has seen them locked out of a welfare system which is meant to help them.

Now Scotland’s First Minister has written to Helen and David to say she was “deeply moved” by their “horrendous experience” and called for a reverse of what she describes as the UK Government’s “heartless welfare cuts”.

The party leader who could play a crucial “kingmaker” role in the upcoming General Election is also calling for urgent reform of the “cruel” welfare system which is failing thousands of families across the UK.

Labour has also backed our call for a major review of why so many people are being missed by the benefits safety net, with Scottish leader Jim Murphy saying older workers like David need targeted support to get back into work.

In her letter to Helen, Miss Sturgeon said: “When I read your letter to The Sunday Post I was left deeply moved.

“Having worked hard all your lives, you and your husband David should rightly be able to expect support from society when you find yourselves most in need. To find the safety net was not there for you will have been a horrendous experience.

“You will know from reading the many letters the Sunday Post received following the publication of your letter that you and David are not alone. But this will be of cold comfort.

“It is an absolute scandal that in 2015 we live in a society where hard working people are forced to go without heating, food and other essentials because of heartless welfare cuts. Over the past five years, the UK Government’s attack on the poorest people in our society has been relentless, unfair and cruel.”

She added: “The sanctions regime in particular within the benefits system has rightly faced huge criticism for being both punitive and unresponsive to people’s circumstances, and needs reformed.”

Our focus on the plight of the Stuarts sparked a moving response from our readers.

The Stuarts’ case is sadly not an isolated one.

Across the UK almost a fifth of the three million people who claimed Jobseeker’s Allowance last year were hit by sanctions.

In Scotland, more than 80,000 had their claims suspended after they broke strict rules including being late or missing an appointment since the system was introduced just over two years ago.

This amounts to an estimated £32m worth of benefits stopped north of the Border last year.

Scottish Labour leader Mr Murphy said: “No one could fail to be moved by Helen and David’s story.

“Sadly, there are far too many people in Scotland and across the UK facing similar fears. Older people still have a role to play in the world of work. I’ve said that I’d like to see the Work programme devolved.”

But Scottish Conservatives spokesman for welfare reform Alex Johnstone MSP said: “Welfare reform measures have worked extremely well in getting people back to work and off benefits.”