Thread by @paulwaugh

Lee Anderson is wrong about foodbanks - but it's @RishiSunak and @BorisJohnson who have the power to tackle hunger in the UK.

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inews.co.uk/opinion/tory-m…

In 2014, @Feeding_Britain had 70 recommendations on how to tackle hunger, backed by the brilliant @BootstrapCook.

But it took the pandemic for the govt to agree 2 key asks: raise Universal Credit and halt benefit sanctions.

Food bank queues fell as a result.

After the £20 Universal Credit uplift was withdrawn last October, food banks saw a sharp rise in demand.

Two really odd things about govt reluctance to raise Universal Credit to match inflation:
1. Many more Tory seats now have UC claimants
2 Many Tories are proud of UC as a flagship welfare reform that offers flexible help in the most direct way to those in need.

.@michaelgove hinted yday, @RishiSunak + @theresecoffey are looking at what more they can do.

The Chancellor is now open to a U-turn on windfall tax, but is he open to a U turn on Universal Credit too?

inews.co.uk/opinion/tory-m…

Lee Anderson was right to highlight the need to provide support for some people who lack cooking or budgeting skills.
@Feeding_Britain 2014 report has them among its 70 recommendations.

But he was wrong to suggest poor cooking/budgeting skills are key drivers for food bank use.
And wrong to say foodbank use is "exaggerated".

The Trussell Trust says the top three reasons people come to its foodbanks are: “low income”, “benefit delays” and “benefit changes".

Suella Braverman losing the room as she talks about poor people not being away they could be saving money on their broadband
#bbcqt