Sturgeon blames Tories for foodbanks

Nicola Sturgeon has blamed Conservative austerity policies for the growth of foodbanks in Scotland.

The SNP leader warned a greater Tory majority at Westminster following next month’s general election would lead to “an even greater burden of needless austerity”.

But former Prime Minister Gordon Brown is to use a speech in Fife to blame the Nationalists for letting the Conservatives plunge record levels of Scots children into poverty.

On a visit to the Highland Food Bank in Inverness, Ms Sturgeon said: “The growth of foodbanks is a damning indictment of just how damaging Tory austerity has been to communities across Scotland.”

Mr Brown, who is speaking in Kirkcaldy today, quoted “horrendous” projections that 320,000 children will be in poverty by 2022.

He will say: “Why are the SNP doing nothing about it if child poverty is on course to reach such shameful record levels?”

Theresa May has said there are “complex reasons” for people using foodbanks, adding she wants to build a country that “works for everyone”.

Picture: Getty. Gordon Brown will speak in Kirkcaldy today.