No need for photocalls
In these times of crisis many families have come to depend on the services provided by the network of foodbanks up and down the country.
So it is really distressing to see the recent spate of Conservative MPs who are using their local foodbanks as a photo opportunity.
These foodbanks exist as a result of the austerity created by those self-same MPs.
Yet instead of hiding and hanging their heads in shame that the least fortunate among us are forced by the hunger of their families into a humiliating plea for assistance, they strut before the cameras grinning righteously as if they were helping the very people they are forcing into poverty.
It’s a disgrace but what is even more disgraceful is that these foodbanks are being regarded as an acceptable part of the welfare system.
They are becoming formalised, institutionalised and incorporated into the benefit system. The Department for Work and Pensions are referring claimants to foodbanks as if they were another arm of the state welfare system.
No child should be allowed to go hungry but for the intervention of charity.
The concept of foodbanks in our country should be regarded as something which shames our nation.
In the short term we can only start from where we are so we have little choice but to give them our support, but in the medium and long term we should be demanding the eradication of the need for these institutions at the earliest opportunity. John Miller Scottish Socialist Party Renfrewshire Branch Regarding your recent report of an incident at a property in Clark Street, Paisley, which involved a teenager falling through a roof skylight (Teen Horror Plunge”, December 10), I would like to make the following points.
Kibbleworks had no absolutely no connection with this incident. Kibbleworks leases the said property from a landlord, it does not own the property.The teenager involved has no link whatsoever to Kibble.There is no Health and Safety Executive probe into KIbbleworks regarding this incident.
Jim Gillespie Chief executive Kibble
Foodbanks are being regarded as an acceptable part of the welfare system