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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Dave Burke

Lee Anderson stokes fury with claim families 'using food banks then going to McDonald's'

Hardline Tory Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson has lashed out at families who he claims "abuse" food banks - then take their children to McDonald's.

The controversial right-winger was accused of "political cowardice" over his comments, which were described as a "demonisation" of those in poverty.

Mr Anderson, who regularly rants about the use of foodbanks by struggling Brits, claimed people were using them as a "weekly shop" in a Commons debate.

He said it was a "myth" that hard-pressed families reliant on Universal Credit are in poverty - and also said he had contacted a school in his area to find out why they were giving free breakfasts to children.

Labour MP Ian Byrne hit out at the remarks, saying the "demonisation" of those in poverty is an act of "political cowardice".

It comes after Mr Anderson previously ranted that poor Brits can't budget or "cook properly" and claimed foodbank users are short of cash because they fritter money on cigarettes, alcohol, expensive TV subscriptions and holidays.

His tone deaf comments ignored the brutal cost of living pressures facing Brits, with rocketing energy bills, inflation and rising prices hitting household budgets.

The controversial Tory MP claimed that food banks were being 'abused' (The New Culture Forum/Youtube)

Research for Food Foundation recently found that 21.6% of households with children struggled with access to food in January as cost of living pressures put the squeeze on family budgets.

This means that some 3.7 million children experienced food insecurity, such as skipping meals, eating less, or going hungry all day.

But speaking during a Westminster Hall debate, Mr Anderson told MPs: "I asked why are some families unable to feed their families a breakfast and they struggled to answer me.

"Eventually they said there's a cross of living crisis. I thought Weetabix and a bowl of milk - what does that cost? Not even the 30p that I'm famous for."

He then said he had asked to speak to some of these families - but claimed not to have heard anything back.

"It's far too easy to say there's a cost of living crisis, you can't keep throwing taxpayers' money (at families)," he told MPs.

The Ashfield MP said: "Being on Universal Credit alone isn't an indication that a family is in poverty, I completely dismiss that."

"But I do admit that some families in this country are struggling."

He went on: "We have got this culture now in some of these deprived areas where people are so dependent on food banks it is like a weekly shop for them.

"One particular family I was helping, really helping, and they were going to the food bank two or three times a week to get their groceries and then, you know, I see them in McDonald's two or three times a week.

"I am thinking, my goodness, I don't want to stop the children going for a treat once in a while but it is all about priorities.

Cost of living pressures have been pushing struggling Brits towards foodbanks (Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)

"If you are really struggling for money and you are going to a food bank two or three times a week, you shouldn't be going out for fast food, takeaways every week. You shouldn't be doing that."

And he continued: "Food banks are being abused. Constituents tell me every single day, now they are either making it up or telling lies or whatever, but they are abused.

"They are abused, food banks are abused by people who don't need the food banks - we should target the food banks."

Mr Anderson claimed that fast-food restaurants were springing up all the time, adding: "These are in deprived areas, why are they coming to these areas? Because they know there's a market."

As other MPs protested, the Ashfield MP added: "You can shake your head all you want."

He later clarified that he wasn't suggesting all families abuse food banks, and said he doesn't do "divisive politics".

Labour MP Mr Byrne said: "I want to make it clear that the catastrophe of hunger in our communities is the result of political choices made by this government."

He said the rise in food inflation was at its highest rate since the 1970s, adding: "Demonisation of people in food poverty is an act of political cowardice."

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