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Jack Monroe: David Cameron 'uses stories about his dead son as misty-eyed rhetoric' to legitimise NHS privatisation Jack Monroe: David Cameron 'uses stories about his dead son as misty-eyed rhetoric' to legitimise NHS privatisation
(about 1 hour later)
Guardian columnist and food blogger Jack Monroe has received a Tory backlash after suggesting the Prime Minister used "stories about his dead son" in order to sell off the NHS "to his friends".Guardian columnist and food blogger Jack Monroe has received a Tory backlash after suggesting the Prime Minister used "stories about his dead son" in order to sell off the NHS "to his friends".
David Cameron’s son Ivan died at the age of just six in 2009 after suffering from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.David Cameron’s son Ivan died at the age of just six in 2009 after suffering from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
He had previously declared his admiration for the way NHS staff had cared for his son.He had previously declared his admiration for the way NHS staff had cared for his son.
He also asked how the Labour party could “dare” claim that he was unsupportive about the Health Service at the Conservative party conference in 2014.He also asked how the Labour party could “dare” claim that he was unsupportive about the Health Service at the Conservative party conference in 2014.
Monroe, a poverty campaigner, posted the following series of tweets on Twitter last night:Monroe, a poverty campaigner, posted the following series of tweets on Twitter last night:
Because 1 million families needed food from a food bank last year, and emergency services are cut while MPs get a 10k pay rise: #CameronMustGoBecause 1 million families needed food from a food bank last year, and emergency services are cut while MPs get a 10k pay rise: #CameronMustGo
Because he uses stories about his dead son as misty-eyed rhetoric to legitimise selling our NHS to his friends: #CameronMustGoBecause he uses stories about his dead son as misty-eyed rhetoric to legitimise selling our NHS to his friends: #CameronMustGo
For Linda, and all the other people judged fit to work by ATOS etc who subsequently fucking DIED, #CameronMustGoFor Linda, and all the other people judged fit to work by ATOS etc who subsequently fucking DIED, #CameronMustGo
A number of Tory MPs criticised the food blogger.A number of Tory MPs criticised the food blogger.
“This is not just a distasteful tweet, it is sick,” Andrew Rosindell, Tory MP for Romford, told the Daily Mail.“This is not just a distasteful tweet, it is sick,” Andrew Rosindell, Tory MP for Romford, told the Daily Mail.
“David and Samantha’s tragic loss of their son has never been used to justify any Government policy.”“David and Samantha’s tragic loss of their son has never been used to justify any Government policy.”
He called for Monroe to withdraw her comments “immediately”.He called for Monroe to withdraw her comments “immediately”.
Sarah Wollaston, Tory chairman of the Commons health select committee, branded the tweets “heartless” and “disgusting”.Sarah Wollaston, Tory chairman of the Commons health select committee, branded the tweets “heartless” and “disgusting”.
“What would The Guardian say about an MP who made such a disgusting and heartless comment?“What would The Guardian say about an MP who made such a disgusting and heartless comment?
“Would they call for them to be sacked? She should immediately apologise… or The Guardian should decide if she should go.’”“Would they call for them to be sacked? She should immediately apologise… or The Guardian should decide if she should go.’”
However, Monroe was not without her own supporters:However, Monroe was not without her own supporters:
We should be grateful to Jack Monroe. She has merely highlighted the spite, bitterness and class-war ideology that drives the left-wing.We should be grateful to Jack Monroe. She has merely highlighted the spite, bitterness and class-war ideology that drives the left-wing.
People are about as offended by Jack Monroe's comments as they are about a photo of a white van. They just don't like her politicsPeople are about as offended by Jack Monroe's comments as they are about a photo of a white van. They just don't like her politics
This isn’t the first time Monroe has taken a Conservative politician to task so publicly. The writer branded Edwina Curry “scum” after the former MP accused Monroe of lying about her family background in a heated televised debate on the benefits system. This isn’t the first time Monroe has taken a Conservative politician to task so publicly. The writer branded Edwina Curry “scum” after the former MP accused Monroe of lying about her family background in a heated televised debate on the benefits system. “Poverty can happen to anyone,” she wrote in an open letter to Curry published in The Guardian. “That’s why I unsettle you and your cronies. Because the Tory party rhetoric of ‘work hard and get on’ can fall apart in the blink of an eyelid. I worked hard. I got on. And I still spent a year and a half scrabbling around in a festering pit of depression, joblessness, benefit delays and suspensions, hunger, and the entrenching, gut wrenching fear that I was failing as a parent.
“Poverty can happen to anyone,” she wrote in an open letter to Curry published in The Guardian. “That’s why I unsettle you and your cronies. Because the Tory party rhetoric of ‘work hard and get on’ can fall apart in the blink of an eyelid. I worked hard. I got on. And I still spent a year and a half scrabbling around in a festering pit of depression, joblessness, benefit delays and suspensions, hunger, and the entrenching, gut wrenching fear that I was failing as a parent.
“I’ve never claimed anywhere that my family were 'poor”'. They weren’t 'rich' either. I’m not really sure what they were, which I guess makes them quite ordinary.”“I’ve never claimed anywhere that my family were 'poor”'. They weren’t 'rich' either. I’m not really sure what they were, which I guess makes them quite ordinary.”