A Tory frontbencher has been branded "out of touch" after saying people struggling to afford food should "consider working more hours" or get a higher-paid job.
Environment Secretary Therese Coffey made the "appalling" remark after being challenged in the House of Commons over the number of people using foodbanks.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell said that with food inflation estimated at 16.8% in the year to January, foodbanks in her York constituency are struggling to help hard-hit families.
Ms Maskell told the Commons: "Due to demand, food banks in York are running out, eking out food supplies."
She asked Ms Coffey what the government is doing to "ensure that no one goes without".
The Tory frontbencher responded: "We talk about aspects of food pricing, inflation is really tough at the moment, there's no doubt about that, and I'm conscious though that we still have a situation where generally across Europe we have one of the lowest proportion of our incomes being spent on food; supermarkets have been very competitive.
"But I do want to encourage her to also work in supporting the household support fund, that is intended to go to people particularly in need.
"But of course we do know that one of the best ways to boost their incomes is not only to get into work if they're not in work already, but potentially to work some more hours, to get upskilled, to get a higher income, but of course the local welfare grant that was given some time ago now by central government to local councils is there for them to use as well."
Ms Maskell was heard responding "that's appalling".
She said after the exchange: "It is shocking that the Environment Secretary shifted blame for food poverty onto people because they are on low wages and are poor, expecting them to work even more hours to put food on the table.
"People are going hungry, often limiting themselves to one small meal a day or missing food altogether. It is time her Government supported families in need, not making them work harder for a crust."
Labour's Nadia Whittome posted: "Tory Deputy Chair Lee Anderson told food bank users to learn to make meals for 30p.
"Now Environment Secretary Therese Coffey says they should simply 'get a higher income' or 'work more hours'.
"This government is utterly out of touch with working class people."
It comes as the Lib Dems call for the government to convene an emergency COBRA meeting after supermarkets put limits on the amount of fruit and veg customers can buy.
Lib Dem MP Christine Jardine said: “People are rightly alarmed about the chronic shortage of fruit and vegetables in our shops, but it seems the government has no urgent plan to fix it.
“This government has created chaos in the economy, an NHS on its knees, now they’re responsible for worsening food shortages through their failure to back British farming.
“We need an urgent COBRA meeting, together with food experts, supermarkets and farmers, to hammer out an urgent solution to this crisis.
“Ministers cannot just sit on their hands while food supply chains across the country grind to a halt.”
