Foodbanks that shame Tories

I VISITED my local foodbank this week and s saw precious few smiles on the faces of the clients who’d trudged i inside from the rain.

Most of th them, clutching vouchers they’d been given b by their GPS, or kids’ school teachers, look looked anxious or embarrassed. Some looke looked ashamed.

Like single dad Barry, a former soldier who fought in Bos Bosnia and Kuwait, now struggling to raise h his eight-year-old daughter on be benefits. “I “I f feel I’ve let myself dow down,” he said, staring at the t floor.

“If you can’t afford to feed your kid you t o oms must have gone wrong somewhere.

“I’d never had debts. But then th I was put on to Universal Credit C my rent wasn’t backdated, I ran up rent arrears and everything ev went pear shaped,

“Of course, I’m grateful that foo foodbanks can help. But they’re not som something to be proud of, are they?” Tell Tel that to the string of smug Tory politicians po who’ve been using them t for self- promotional photo-ops this Christmas.

The MPS and ministers who rock up at supermarket collection col points, don volunteer bibs or hold a few cans of beans for a pic to post on social media. “Caring” Conservatives like Dominic Raab, Nicky Morgan and Caroline Nokes are encouraging us to help feed the hungry, when it’s their party’s austerity polices that are leaving stomachs rumbling.

And Iain Duncan Smith, whose Universal Credit cock-up sparked so much suffering – wants shoppers to throw a few extra items in their trolleys for hungry kids this Christmas. The hypocrisy sticks in my craw. Botched Tory welfare reforms have caused a 49 per cent rise in foodbank use nationwide. At mine, in Southwark, South London, there’s been a 30 per cent spike in demand – and 80 per cent of the increase is due to UC.

Demand is so great the charity, Pecan, which runs it with the Trussell Trust has considered getting a bigger warehouse and its own vans.

But manager Simon Boxhall says that would “make a commercial operation out of something that shouldn’t exist”.

He added: “We are sailing into a situation where foodbanks are an accepted part of the welfare state. Reform is necessary but are we comfortable that we’ve put more responsibility for welfare on to the general public?”

Those beaming Tory foodbank fans clearly ARE at ease with this new status quo.

But the anguished faces of the families reliant on 1.5 million free meals this Christmas, should make them hang their heads in shame.