They really are stupid.

Balloons??? Why are they celebrating? We'll be having soup kitchens next!

Those pictures seem stunning in their crassness.

BUT, the people opening the food banks must have invited the politicians along, to publicise the event. They could hardly stand there in sackcloth and ashes. Would have been interesting to hear the speeches each one made.

Difficult , seeing the photographs together makes one think they look as if taken on a national day of food bank celebrations. It's shameful that we need them but we do need them and if one photograph is taken for the local newspaper then it may help those in that town who need these 21st century soup kitchens to feel less shame/embarrassment using them

I admit I felt a longing to slap Danny Alexander

They should be hanging their heads in shame that such a need exists.

So right, annsixty!

How can we justify the need for foodbanks in such a wealthy country? No one should be so poor they need to rely on charity to eat.

It will get worse - there are many more cuts to come in public services, the army, the police, the fire service, etc. Unluckily, there are no proposals to reduce the number of MPs or their pay.

It cannot be justified Vampirequeen , poverty must never be justified . A politician - cannot recall his name sorry- has said it is bad management of income which causes people to turn to food banks. This is the society we now live in, the disabled are benefit cheats , the unemployed are workshy, we no longer have the vulnerable , they have all brought it on themselves

Yes, Annie! It all sounds so Victorian, doesn't it? No compassion, no empathy, no understanding at all, from people safe in their own smug worlds.

The only one looking uncomfortable about it is Hugh Bayley in York.
There was a picture in the local paper of a Tory councillor and 3 people who had done cycling etc. to collect money for a foodbank in Durham, all smiling inanely and saying how pleased they were.
I replied to that, saying that nobody should be pleased that they have to raise money for a food bank in this country, still one of the wealthiest nations in the world.
I would think Zac Goldsmith could afford to finance a food bank on his own at least until his government is voted out of office.

Gosh, I am so shocked and agree with everything already said. As has been stated, why do they all look so happy? I know, why do we not just start up the old "workhouse" then we could just put all these people, who obviously are so embarrassing to the government, in and just pretend they don't really exist. Then we could just pretend that everything is all peachy and wonderful and forget about these poor people and do nothing. (Sorry, got a bit carried away there) This just should not be happening though.

Surely it would have been better to site the foodbanks in less public places so that people are not humiliated by having to use them. Not that they should be, of course, it is the politicians who should be ashamed, but I am sure there are people who won't want to publicise their desperation. The sites could be well signed in Job Centres, DWP offices , libraries, etc.

Totally agree Greatnan, it must be really humiliating to have to turn to using such places. Posters where you suggest would be a very good idea. And yes lets stop seeing the smiling smug faces of these politicians who as you said, should be ashamed.

Can't work out where the one in Peterborough is. In an Indian restaurant?
At least the others have food in the photos.

If Nick Clegg had thought about it, he could have opened food banks in primary schools, fed the children from those stores of food that have been donated, and save on that bill, too! How low are they going to go?

Don't give him ideas, When.
The Trussell Trust has the most foodbanks in this country. They started off in Bulgaria!
They hope to have 500 food banks by 2016. What a terrible mission statement.
The DWP says that there is no evidence that welfare reforms are linked to the increased use of food banks. The Trussell Trust begs to differ. It reckons that 8 years ago 20% of their custom came from people with problems with benefits. It's now 52%.
The MD used to have good relations with Tory central office. He doesn't talk to them that much any more.

Even more embarrassing the 'customer' has to be referred so they can't it a secret.

'Not everyone can use a food bank - you have to be referred by a 'care professional' such as:
•A doctor
•A social worker
•A health visitor
•The police
•Somebody from the Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB).

If you've been referred, you'll be given a voucher - which you should take to your nearest food bank. Once you're there your voucher can be redeemed for three days' worth of nutritionally balanced food.'
www.gregorypennington.co.uk/debt-management/guides/food-bank-advice-guide-0-3969-0.htm

How is foodbank food nutritionally balanced? It's usually canned or dried food.

There would be big problems in trying to store fresh meat or fish.

Obviously, Greatnan, but the same cannot be said for fresh fruit and veg.
Anyway, the quote from the foodbank says it's nutritionally balanced and I do not see how without including some fresh veg.

Ariadne, you are so right, it is Victorian . I have access to archive papers because of research into the poor law, workhouses and mental institutions, what fills me with dread and horror is what I hear being said now is so like what I read written in the 19th century.

Positivepam, you spoke of hidden away in workhouses - a meeting of the town doctor, headmaster, Anglican Priest and the local 'gentry ' to decide on the site of a workhouse

"the building must be located to the west and some distance from the highway ,these wretches cannot be seen by the Godly people of this town"

Plus ca change....................I agree about fresh fruit and veg but I have no knowledge of how the food boxes are prepared.

The website says

'Food banks provide food - of course. If you hand over a voucher you'll be given three days' worth of nutritionally balanced food, including things like:
•UHT milk
•Sugar
•Fruit juice
•Soup
•Pasta and pasta sauces
•Rice
•Tinned fruit and vegetables
•Tinned meat and fish
•Biscuits and snacks'

Several times at our local Waitrose there have been representatives collecting foodstuffs for a foodbank, with requests for packaged foods like sugar and teabags. The store donated quite a lot of packets of pasta and bags of sugar. If they're operating in church or community halls they are unlikely to have facilities for keeping fruit and veg fresh.