MP should try living on 30p meals instead of criticising foodbank users

Sir, – I’ve been listening with astonishment at the comments made by MP Lee Anderson in relation to foodbanks.

This former Labour MP turned Tory MP (what else) insults every foodbank user by suggesting they cannot cook and every foodbank should be offering them a cooking course.

Such sweeping generalisations must surely be a form of discrimination against the lower income members of our society. This misguided and inaccurate stereotyping serves no useful purpose.

Mr Anderson needs to understand that many people do not go into a foodbank willingly and many find the whole situation demeaning, degrading and embarrassing.

Many find circumstances outwith their control necessitates their foodbank use. To then have them attend cooking courses shows just how out of touch this man is. Such crass comments from Mr

Anderson are unhelpful to put it mildly.

He continues by saying that wholesome meals can be prepared for 30p.

Instead of unfairly criticising and making some wholly inappropriate comments against foodbank users, Mr Anderson would do far more good if he – and his colleagues – could make it their mission by working night and day to ensure our society is fairer and more just for everyone.

By doing so, we would reach the wonderful day when foodbanks become redundant.

That would be a cause for huge celebration and I would be the first to congratulate Mr Anderson.

I also note that Mr Anderson claims about £206,000 per annum in expenses alone and perhaps this figure would be reduced considerably if he spent a month or two existing – not living – on 30p meals.