THE Tories’ candidate in an upcoming by-election suggested parents struggling to feed their children because they are out of work should “f*** off”.
Andrew Cooper, who is standing to replace the disgraced former Conservative MP Chris Pincher in Tamworth, shared an offensive graphic on social media which hit out at unemployed people struggling with the cost of living, The Mirror reports.
The post, from 2020, featured a flow chart drawn on a piece of paper which asked the question: “Can you feed your kids?”
It suggested those who paid for TV subscriptions, mobile phone contracts, or for work on their nails, eyebrows or lips and struggled to feed their children should “f*** off”.
It also said that parents who did none of those but were out of work should also “f*** off”.
Labour MP Stephanie Peacock, who is leading the party’s campaign in Tamworth, near Birmingham, said she was “shocked but frankly not surprised” by the post.
She told The Mirror: “The Tories have overseen 13 years of next to no growth, before crashing the economy. The result is a third of children in Tamworth are growing up in poverty and two-thirds of them are in working families.
“It shows a complete lack of understanding of the challenges facing families in Tamworth that the Conservative candidate is telling parents who are struggling to make ends meet to ‘f*** off’.
“I am shocked but frankly not surprised at this behaviour given the last Tory MP for the area resigned in disgrace. Tamworth has an opportunity to vote for a fresh start on Thursday with Sarah Edwards who will be a hard-working champion for the town.”
Responding to the criticism, Cooper told the paper there were “too many people” on benefits.
He said: “I think most people in Tamworth would agree that benefits are not there to pay for luxuries. There are too many people on out of work benefits and there needs to be improved incentives to get people into work.
“Both the Prime Minister and Chancellor have spoken about the need to get people off welfare and into jobs.
“That’s why I want to be the local MP in Tamworth – so I can support local families and help get more people into work.”
Both Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire are up for grabs in by-elections on Thursday. Both seats were previously held by Conservative MPs.
Pincher resigned his Tamworth seat after he was recommended for a suspension by Parliament’s sleaze watchdogs over allegations he had groped two men in a private members’ club in London.
