A councillor came under fire for saying some people using food banks had their priorities wrong.
Comments by Conservative councillor Joe Miller, who quoted a food bank volunteer, were described as “balderdash” at an online meeting yesterday (Wednesday 3 March).
His comments came as councillors discussed whether to write to the government asking for a “right to food” to be made a legal right.
Councillor Miller said that Green and Labour councillors should have amended Brighton and Hove City Council’s recently set budget if they wanted more money put into supporting those in food poverty.
Quoting a volunteer at the Whitehawk Food Bank, he said: “Her view is that some people who use that food bank – and this is pre-covid, granted, and this is not me saying this – ‘have their priorities wrong.’ That is sometimes the case.
“I agree it is a sad state of affairs that people have to use food banks when they can’t afford to eat and they fall on hard times. It’s why it’s there. It’s why charities are there.”
Councillor Miller said that writing to the government about this was a waste of the council chief executive’s time and that the state should not do everything instead of charities.
Labour councillor Daniel Yates said that amending the council’s budget was not the only way to tackle food poverty in Brighton and Hove.
He said that the council provided a “significant amount” to the City Food Partnership, communities and the voluntary sector.
Councillor Yates said that he would not comment on the “balderdash” from Councillor Miller which he said was “embarrassing”.
Labour opposition leader Nancy Platts said that she was “astonished” by Councillor Miller’s comments.
She said that the same groups of people were falling into poverty as it was linked with education, overcrowded housing, precarious work and low incomes.
Councillor Platts said: “What I have just heard is the harshest and least sympathetic outpouring of nonsense ever.
“It just shows the most astounding lack of understanding and no empathy whatsoever for the people in this city who are struggling and fighting to survive, who cannot feed their kids and put food on the table.”
Councillor Platts said that she had split her “ward budget” of £1,000 between the Whitehawk and Craven Vale food banks.
The Whitehawk Food Bank is supported by the Trussell Trust and has running costs of £95,000 a year.
So volunteers working at food banks are wrong, and Green and Labour councillors know better.
Sounds typical of these parties in not listening to those affected by their ideology inspired schemes, or who might have direct experience.
WEll done Joe Miller.
Green Goons and Labour loon councillors discussed whether to write to the government asking for a “right to food” to be made a legal right.
We should write saying that no Greens or Labour is a legal right too.
Bring back the adults, we have had enough of the children and their cycle lanes.