Food Banks

Food bank recipients need to be referred to the Food Bank by a GP/Social Services/CAB. They do not need to know about Food Banks as long as the people referring them do.

For such a clever man, JRM does himself no favours by not researching an issue like this properly before pontificating. That or he needs a better researcher.

Unchristian, as well, according to charities.

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/14/jacob-rees-mogg-increased-use-food-banks-rather-uplifting

Quite so, grannyactivist. While I deplore the need for any food banks, what JRM actually said has been misinterpreted.

In related news, there is a good article in yesterday's Times on how the universal credit system is pushing people into needing food banks (and other problems like rent arrears) and what needs to be done to improve the system.

I don't think JRM is 'clever' - there are many kinds of intelligence and his is certainly limited.

Sorry, how has it been misinterpreted?
For him to actually take praise for his party for having over 2000 food banks makes me feel quite sick.
The reason Labour didn't was because there was not the same need.

How many of us could live without money coming in for a minimum of six weeks?
Universal credit is being rolled out in the North East in November and December. The DWP has been asked to delay it until after Christmas, and has refused.
That's not uplifting. That's heartless.

“Food banks pre-date the Conservative government and crucially, the change that took place was that the Conservative government allowed Jobcentre Plus to tell people that food banks existed,” the Conservative backbencher said. “And the former Labour government would not tell them, and that was a policy decision to stop people knowing that there was help available.”
www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/sep/14/jacob-rees-mogg-increased-use-food-banks-rather-uplifting

How has that been misinterpreted?
Were there thousands of people starving because they didn't know about food banks?

Actually, the Trussel Trust research shows that the percentage of referrals from Job Centres have not increased - but the sanctions policy they implement certainly has.

“Of course food banks are wonderful but I think Mr Rees-Mogg has missed the point here, the point is there should not be a need for them in modern Britain."

Quote from a food bank volunteer who has challenged Mr Rees Mogg to work a shift in a food bank.

voxpoliticalonline.com/2017/09/15/after-rees-mogg-said-food-banks-that-couldnt-help-the-starving-were-uplifting-hes-challenged-to-work-in-one/

Foodbank in his own constituency as well, FarNorth.
Perhaps he'll then have time to go home and change his own baby's nappy.

My grandson and I were reading the i this morning, and he came upon the article.
He said, "Did he really say that?"
When told he had, at first he wouldn't believe me. Then he said, "But isn't he supposed to be a Christian? That's not a very Christian thing to say, is it? People don't go to foodbanks because they want to."

I then showed him the Guardian article where charities were calling him unchristian.

I don't think the bit you quoted has been misinterpreted, farnorth. I'll have to look up the bit I thought was misinterpreted so I can quote it exactly.

I think this part has been misinterpreted:
“To have charitable support given by people voluntarily to support their fellow citizens I think is rather uplifting and shows what a good, compassionate country we are,”

What he is saying is uplifting is charitable giving which, in addition, can also be called "Christian" (though it's just good in my view and doesn't belong to any religion).

I don't think the political part of what he said has been misinterpreted.

Bet someone comes along and calls me pedantic again. Nope, just precise.

Be as pedantic or precise as you like, Baggs.
Charities don't agree with you.

Do you think he should go and work in his local foodbank, so he can meet some of these charitable workers and even be one himself?
Do you think he should really find out about foodbanks and how and why the people are sent to them?

He said that the reason they are used more is because the Tories have ensured that jobcentres tell people about them.
When Labour were in power, there were fewer than 100 foodbanks. Now there are over 2000.

Fewer than 5% of people are sent there by jobcentres, so he got that wrong, didn't he?

" A Cornish food bank has said that some children in Cornwall are literally facing starvation, as it called for a welfare system that does more to help struggling families before they reach crisis point.

The Camborne Pool and Redruth foodbank, which helps low-income households in one of the most deprived regions in the country, hands out 10,000 meals to hard-up households every month.

Donovan Gardner, who works at the foodbank, says he is often struck by the severe plight faced by families who are struggling to afford food for their children.

Mr Gardner said: “We know there are children out there starving and that really does hurt." "

I am sure these people working here find it very uplifting, although they can probably find other more suitable words for it.

I think you'll find charities do agree that charitable giving is uplifting, dj.

I don't suppose they think the need for charitable giving is uplifting. Neither do I, nor you. I think most people would agree about that.

Actually, Baggs, I don't find what you say pedantic or precise, I call it petty.

As I said, I don't think JRM's politicking has been misinterpreted.

Yes, well, you would because you've decided I'm bad and nothing I say will change that. That attitude says more about you than about me though.

As JRM supports a system of less taxation, less welfare payments, less government support and less NHS support, of course he approves of Food banks, as far as he is concerned that's the ideal Tory state. Probably intends to bring back Workhouses as well.
When I was bringing up my 3 sons I dreaded sudden big bills coming in, so I know what it's like to be walking a tight rope, I was lucky I had a supportive family. It's disgusting that in such a rich country we have people who can't afford to eat.

There's a difference in being 'precise' as you call it Baggs and totally missing the point. If you insist on simply reading precisely 'on the lines' you miss the inferences 'between the lines' and 'beyond the lines' - an advanced reading skill I'm sure you were taught at one time.

Which part of "I don't think JRM's politicking has been misinterpreted" didn't you understand, anya?

That's now three times I've agreed that the politics behind the need for food banks stinks.

I haven't decided you are bad at all. I said what you said is petty.
You are the one who is always telling us to separate the person from what they are saying.
Unfortunately, with Rees-Mogg, that is very hard to do, because what he says informs his politics.
If he really wants to know about foodbanks, rather than trotting out Tory policy, he would take up that foodbank's offer.