A Tory MP suggested that people learn to plan their finances better instead of using food banks, in comments that sparked a furious online reaction.
Despite the deteriorating cost of living crisis, Lee Anderson, an MP from Ashfield, said that “there is not so much use of food banks in this country” during a debate in the Queen’s Speech Municipality.
He continued: “We have generation after generation that can’t cook properly, can’t cook from scratch, can’t budget.”
But Britons are facing the biggest drop in living standards this year since recordings began in 1956, according to the Office of Budget Responsibility, and food prices are rising at the fastest pace in 30 years.
Household energy bills have also risen to record highs, inflation appears to be joining 10%, taxes are rising and the UK is expected to enter a recession later this year.
The Trussell Trust, which maintains a network of food banks in the UK, responded to Mr Anderson’s comments by saying: “Cooking from scratch will not help families keep the lights on or put food on the table if they don’t have enough money in their pockets. them.
“Our study shows that people in food banks had an average of just £ 57 a week to live on housing costs, and no amount of budget management or cooking lessons will make this stretch to cover municipal tax. , the bills for energy, food and everything else are basic things we all need. “
Similarly, SNP MP Joanna Cherry told Mr Anderson that people do not use food banks because they do not know how to cook, but because “we have poverty in this country on a scale that should embarrass his government”.
However, Mr Anderson said meals could be prepared from scratch “for about 30 pence a day”, as he invited “everyone” from opposition benches to visit a food bank in Ashfield.
“When people come now for a food package, they have to sign up for a budgeting course and a cooking course.”
He added: “And what we do at the food bank, we show them how to cook cheap and nutritious meals on a limited budget. We can prepare food for about 30 pence a day. And that’s cooking from scratch.”
Stockton North Labor MP Alex Cunningham asked: “Should there be food banks in 21st century Britain?”
Mr Anderson replied: “He has a great opinion and that is exactly my point.
So, I invite you personally to come to Ashfield, to see our food bank, how it works and I think you will see first hand that in this country there is no such mass use of food banks, but generation after generation that can not to cook properly, they cannot prepare food from scratch.
“The challenge is there. Come on, come on. I’ll suggest everyone.”
Ms Cheery said “we all have food banks in our constituency”, adding: “We don’t really need to visit his because we are fully aware of the requirements.
“But the requirement for them is not because people do not know how to cook, but because we have poverty in this country on a scale that should embarrass his government.”
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