A government minister has come under fire after he said using a food bank was a ‘personal decision’ made by people. Armed forces minister Johnny Mercer, who is Tory MP for Plymouth made the comments while being interviewed by Kay Burley on Sky News about former military personnel using food banks - and sparked outrage.
He was challenged for this view by Ms Burley who said people don’t ‘choose’ to use foodbanks, rather it’s out of desperation. He replied that in ‘my experience, that’s not correct’. Sky News presenter Kay Burley asked: “Is there any need for military personnel to be using food banks? Deborah Haynes, our defence editor, carried that story last month.”
Mr Mercer said: “Look, these are these are personal decisions around, how people, are budgeting every month. I don’t want to see anyone using food banks. Of course I don’t.
