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| Jacob Rees-Mogg, food banks and the role of the state | Jacob Rees-Mogg, food banks and the role of the state |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| To call food banks an “uplifting” sign of a compassionate country is incredibly insensitive (Anger as Tory MP says food banks ‘uplifting’, 15 September). While they form a lifeline for many families there should be no need for them in the first place. We know that in London many people using food banks are in low-paid work, while others use them as a necessary stop-gap when faced with delays to their benefits or heavy-handed sanctions. These are preventable problems and the government’s unwillingness to resolve them is having a profound impact in the capital. | To call food banks an “uplifting” sign of a compassionate country is incredibly insensitive (Anger as Tory MP says food banks ‘uplifting’, 15 September). While they form a lifeline for many families there should be no need for them in the first place. We know that in London many people using food banks are in low-paid work, while others use them as a necessary stop-gap when faced with delays to their benefits or heavy-handed sanctions. These are preventable problems and the government’s unwillingness to resolve them is having a profound impact in the capital. |
| In London, over 110,000 people are believed to be reliant on Trussell Trust food banks alone, with additional assistance from other organisations to provide basic essentials. This is just the tip of the iceberg – there are far more people who are living in food poverty but don’t access emergency food aid. I raised this as an issue in my 2013 report, A Zero Hunger City, where I called on the government to work with the then mayor, Boris Johnson, and local authorities to eradicate food poverty in London. It is shameful that the number of people in our great city going hungry continued to rise. | In London, over 110,000 people are believed to be reliant on Trussell Trust food banks alone, with additional assistance from other organisations to provide basic essentials. This is just the tip of the iceberg – there are far more people who are living in food poverty but don’t access emergency food aid. I raised this as an issue in my 2013 report, A Zero Hunger City, where I called on the government to work with the then mayor, Boris Johnson, and local authorities to eradicate food poverty in London. It is shameful that the number of people in our great city going hungry continued to rise. |
| I would encourage Jacob Rees-Mogg to visit a food bank and hear directly from those who use them exactly why they depend on their food packages. Acknowledging the government’s role in growing rates of food poverty, and lobbying his colleagues in government to tackle those root causes, would be a much more compassionate and helpful approach from Mr Rees-Mogg.Dr Fiona Twycross AMLabour economy spokesperson, London assembly | I would encourage Jacob Rees-Mogg to visit a food bank and hear directly from those who use them exactly why they depend on their food packages. Acknowledging the government’s role in growing rates of food poverty, and lobbying his colleagues in government to tackle those root causes, would be a much more compassionate and helpful approach from Mr Rees-Mogg.Dr Fiona Twycross AMLabour economy spokesperson, London assembly |
| • I volunteer in my local Trussell Trust food bank and, like Jacob Rees-Mogg, I am a practising Roman Catholic. However, unlike Rees-Mogg, I do not find my experiences there to be “uplifting”. Invariably, our clients (many of whom are on the receiving end of punative benefits sanctions issued by public agencies) come to us as a last resort so that they may at least have some food for themselves and their families. Our clients have little choice over the food that we provide, which is a mixture of tinned and packet food only. No fresh food is provided. Many of them, despite our best efforts, find the whole experience humiliating and distressing and, for many of my colleagues and myself, rather than being uplifted we finish our shift deeply upset at hearing first hand the experiences of so many of our clients. | • I volunteer in my local Trussell Trust food bank and, like Jacob Rees-Mogg, I am a practising Roman Catholic. However, unlike Rees-Mogg, I do not find my experiences there to be “uplifting”. Invariably, our clients (many of whom are on the receiving end of punative benefits sanctions issued by public agencies) come to us as a last resort so that they may at least have some food for themselves and their families. Our clients have little choice over the food that we provide, which is a mixture of tinned and packet food only. No fresh food is provided. Many of them, despite our best efforts, find the whole experience humiliating and distressing and, for many of my colleagues and myself, rather than being uplifted we finish our shift deeply upset at hearing first hand the experiences of so many of our clients. |
| I agree with Rees-Mogg that “the state cannot do everything”. But the very basics that a civilised state can and should do is to provide the means for all of its citizens to obtain sufficient and appropriate food for themselves and their families.Eamonn McCuskerDownham Market, Norfolk | I agree with Rees-Mogg that “the state cannot do everything”. But the very basics that a civilised state can and should do is to provide the means for all of its citizens to obtain sufficient and appropriate food for themselves and their families.Eamonn McCuskerDownham Market, Norfolk |
| • The Guardian’s headline concerning Mr Rees-Mogg’s comments on food banks was misleading. It quoted his use of the word “uplifting” in the context of the increased use of food banks, when in fact he was referring to the actions of the food-bank volunteers. His latter assertion that the state may not always be able to help people make ends meet is a controversial opinion, though a perfectly valid one. However, to describe charitable work as uplifting is not to praise the cause, just as one would not be applauding the earthquake were one to praise the human response.Jake KirnerEpping, Essex | • The Guardian’s headline concerning Mr Rees-Mogg’s comments on food banks was misleading. It quoted his use of the word “uplifting” in the context of the increased use of food banks, when in fact he was referring to the actions of the food-bank volunteers. His latter assertion that the state may not always be able to help people make ends meet is a controversial opinion, though a perfectly valid one. However, to describe charitable work as uplifting is not to praise the cause, just as one would not be applauding the earthquake were one to praise the human response.Jake KirnerEpping, Essex |
| • Jacob Rees-Moggs’ comments on food banks come straight from the gospel of 1984. “I don’t think the state can do everything,” he says. Good God. If a country as rich as ours has a single food bank, we have failed. Seek the welfare of the city, declaims the prophet, for in it lies your welfare. Get it, Jacob?Fr Alec MitchellManchester | • Jacob Rees-Moggs’ comments on food banks come straight from the gospel of 1984. “I don’t think the state can do everything,” he says. Good God. If a country as rich as ours has a single food bank, we have failed. Seek the welfare of the city, declaims the prophet, for in it lies your welfare. Get it, Jacob?Fr Alec MitchellManchester |
| • Would Jacob Rees-Mogg commend the thieves mentioned in Luke 10:30 for giving the Good Samaritan the perfect opportunity to demonstrate neighbourliness?Margaret JohnstonBolton | • Would Jacob Rees-Mogg commend the thieves mentioned in Luke 10:30 for giving the Good Samaritan the perfect opportunity to demonstrate neighbourliness?Margaret JohnstonBolton |
| • The letter from seven Church of England bishops (14 September) drawing attention to the problem of destitution is hugely welcome. However, it is necessary to aim higher than relieving destitution, which existed for many low-income tenants long before the crash 10 years ago. At the heart of their poverty was, and still is, the enormous unearned and untaxed wealth gained by land owners from the massive increase in the value of their land over the past 30 years. That unearned wealth has been left untouched while the landless tenants have been made to pay for bailing out the banks since 2008 with council tax and harsh cuts in their low-benefit incomes, stagnant pay and pay as you earn income tax. | • The letter from seven Church of England bishops (14 September) drawing attention to the problem of destitution is hugely welcome. However, it is necessary to aim higher than relieving destitution, which existed for many low-income tenants long before the crash 10 years ago. At the heart of their poverty was, and still is, the enormous unearned and untaxed wealth gained by land owners from the massive increase in the value of their land over the past 30 years. That unearned wealth has been left untouched while the landless tenants have been made to pay for bailing out the banks since 2008 with council tax and harsh cuts in their low-benefit incomes, stagnant pay and pay as you earn income tax. |
| The phased introduction of a small land value tax replacing council tax, business rates and stamp duty would be step change in the creation of a fairer UK.Rev Paul NicolsonLondon | The phased introduction of a small land value tax replacing council tax, business rates and stamp duty would be step change in the creation of a fairer UK.Rev Paul NicolsonLondon |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |
| Food banks | Food banks |
| Jacob Rees-Mogg | Jacob Rees-Mogg |
| Poverty | Poverty |
| Social exclusion | Social exclusion |
| letters | letters |
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