People have criticised controversial Conservative MP Lee Anderson over his claim that the UK will only have a “big problem” when Wetherspoon pubs are empty. In a bizarre speech to young Tories during the opening day of the party’s conference in Birmingham, the MP for Ashfield also questioned the existence of food poverty due to obesity rates in Britain.
The Mirror reported that the ex-Labour councillor told members: “Go in any Wetherspoons, that’s the barometer of how this country is doing. When Wetherspoons is empty we’ve got a big problem.”
The speech had many twists and turns as Anderson ranted about the media, food banks, poverty and more. “Whenever we put the TV on people are telling us how poor we are,” he went on.
“I’ve got a big bee in my bonnet about food poverty. I’m a big believer that we do need food banks, but not to the degree we’ve got them.
“Every do-gooder is starting these little projects to make themselves feel good. I’ll take no lectures from the left. How can we have food poverty when we’ve got an obesity crisis?”
According to the NHS obesity currently affects around 25% of Britain’s adults. Data from the Active Lives adult survey estimates that 25.3% of adults were living with obesity between November 2020 and November 2021, which is an increase from 24.4% from the previous year.
JD Wetherspoon put 32 of its pubs up for sale last week. The chain had previously warned that it could face losses of £32 million as a result of rising staff wages and repairs.
Backbencher Anderson continued: “We’re in a world where the only input they have is having the children. As soon as they’re born they’re someone else’s responsibility. Unfortunately we’ve got some parents who just don’t look after their children, I’m not ashamed to say that.
“When people bang on about kids being hungry, I’ve seen that poverty, I grew up around that poverty. I saw my mum and dad struggle on a Sunday night. They’d put their money on the table and then they’d be skint for a week. That’s real poverty. I’m sorry, but you can’t have everything. If you want that property there are certain sacrifices you have to make.”
Following Anderson’s outburst thousands have taken to social media to criticise the MP. More than 500 alone commented on a WalesOnline post about his remarks.
Rob Turner said: “Well he would say that wouldn’t he? While he’s having his subsidised lunch and drinks in the Westminster bar and restaurant while working out his generous expense claim.”
Pete Northcott responded: “He’s a big believer that we need food banks? As a member of the government of a country in which food banks even exist, he should be ashamed. The sooner this entitled, self-serving, clueless bunch is kicked out the better.”
Brigitte Robinson lambasted the MP, saying: “No understanding, just judgemental nastiness. Epitomises the current state of the Tory party.”
Paul Keddie advised that Anderson work for a charity. “I wonder if he has ever actually worked at the sharp end of a charity for the homeless or less well off,” he said. “I would respectfully suggest that he only has a very superficial understanding of what has been happening in the UK over the last decade. There is a miniscule amount of truth in what he says, but he seems to be lumping millions of people in one group, which is ridiculous.”
Leeann Summers was critical of Anderson’s obesity claim. She said: “It’s not all down to eating that is causing obesity in our country. It could also be down to medications like steroids, your health, auto-immune diseases, or other conditions.
“Also, when you haven’t got money it is cheaper to eat unhealthy foods as healthier foods are dearer. You need to leave politics because you are so judgemental, arrogant, and not in touch with real people’s lives.”
Not everyone was critical of Anderson, though. Some were even supportive of his words, like Sue Roper. She said: “I totally agree with him. There are too many claiming benefits when they are perfectly able to work. I know of a few.”
Wendy Morgan agreed: “How very spot on Lee Anderson. We’ve all been hard up at times, we lived and survived through the seventies - no food banks then, mortgage interest rates at about 15% at times, one salary coming in, strikes and power cuts.
“Only hand out was the family allowance. We managed, and I can’t remember going hungry. We made do with what we had, and if we couldn’t afford it we went without.”
Anderson also suggested some don't work hard enough. He added that at the time he bought his first home in 1990 people would work 12-hour days, seven days a week, and take on second jobs in order to get on the housing ladder.
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