​Super-wealthy MP says foodbank use is not driven by austerity

A multi-millionaire Tory MP has been blasted after he declared foodbank use as “rather uplifting”.

Super-rich, Eton-educated Jacob Rees-Mogg said emergency food provision shows "what a good compassionate country we are."

The Tory toff, a favourite to take over from Prime Minister Theresa May, said the huge recent rise in foodbank use is not down to Westminster-driven austerity.

Instead he blamed it on the Labour Party.

Ultra-right and proudly posh Rees-Mogg, dubbed the “honourable member for the early 20th century”, made his foodbank remarks during an LBC radio interview.

Last year the Trussell Trust gave out 1,182,954 emergency food supplies to people in the UK, its highest ever figure.

Rees-Mogg said this shows "what a good compassionate country we are."

He said: "I don't think the state can do everything that it tries.

“It provides a basic level of welfare, but on some occasions that will not work and to have charitable support given by people voluntarily to support their fellow citizens I think is rather uplifting.”

He said more people use foodbanks now because they get more publicity: "The real reason for the rise in numbers is because people know they are there and Labour refused to tell them."

However, John Dickie, the head of the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland, blasted back: “There is nothing uplifting about being forced to rely on charity to feed yourself and your family.

“All the evidence is clear that the key drivers behind the explosion in foodbank use are cuts and failings in our social security system.

“Individuals and communities have stepped up to the plate in filling the gap created by failing welfare reform but the challenge now is to shift back from a foodbank first response to income crisis to a cash and rights based response.

“The priority for government at every level needs to be ensuring people have the money they need to buy food with the dignity they have a right to."

The MP for North East Somerset is one of the wealthiest MPs in Westminster parliament, having made millions in high finance and is due to inherit £100 million from his family estate.

He recently sparked outrage when he said he is opposed to same-sex marriage and the right to abortion in all circumstances, even when the woman involved had been raped.

According to Trussell Trust figures, a record number of Scots are relying on help from foodbanks.

Last year, more than 145,000 packages were given out by the charity – the most ever.

It is estimated that this helped to stave off hunger in almost 50,000 children and is enough to feed the entire population of Dundee.

Low incomes and benefit problems have been blamed for the rise, with represents a 9% jump from 2015.

This number represents only a proportion of the true figure as emergency food is provided by a patchwork of church and third sector groups.