Ricky Tomlinson at Trussell Trust food bank: My proud city Liverpool does not deserve to go hungry

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Concerned: Ricky is upset that families have to turn to food banks
Chris Neill
When I was asked to help out at a Liverpool food bank by the Trussell Trust and Len McCluskey, I leapt at the chance. But what I saw there really stopped me in my tracks.

The volunteers were working flat out packing food boxes for families who without their help would have nothing to wake up to on Christmas morning.

Then the manager Paul told me this was just one of a number of food banks in and around Liverpool and all of them would be rushed off their feet over Christmas.

In all there are 400 Trussell Trust food banks trying to feed 20,000 kids this Christmas. That’s on top of the 500,000 people they’ve fed since April, which is like feeding the whole of Wembley stadium five and a half times over.

Now Len and I are working class Liverpudlians – born and bred. We know what Scousers are like. Ours is a city full of proud people.

It’s obvious to us that the moment a family was forced to go to a food bank for help would’ve been one of the hardest of their lives – no matter how friendly the volunteers.

So it makes me furious when a prat like Tory Government minister Lord Freud says people are just going to take advantage of a free meal. Rubbish! These families are totally desperate.

And don’t even get me started on Esther McVey. That Wirral MP is simply a complete embarrassment to all of Merseyside.

Last week she was representing the Government in a debate on food banks, which was demanded by the 144,400 people who signed Jack Monroe’s petition – backed by the Mirror and Unite.

But Esther couldn’t even be bothered to stay the whole way through the debate. Just like her boss Iain Duncan Smith, she ran off, rather than face up to the damage that her Government is doing.



The truth is millions of families are facing a grim Christmas and 2014, because of frozen wages, rocketing bills and Government cuts. Pay packets simply can’t cover the cost of living.

But rather than do something about it, this lot in government are trying to blame ordinary people and turn us against each other.

Sadly, our afternoon at the food bank reminded Len and me of a time we’d hoped had been left behind.

We remembered being trade union organisers in the 1970s and 1980s, me on the building sites and Len as a dock worker. Back then ordinary families were facing desperate poverty.

But throughout that dark time one thing kept us going – the strength of our community.

Even if too often the government then didn’t give a toss about us, people pulled together to help each other out.

That’s why I’m so proud to be backing the Mirror, the Trussell Trust and Unite Christmas appeal this year.

It’s inspiring to see once again ordinary people, all around the country, putting their hands in their pockets to donate whatever they can manage.

As a trade unionist, I’m so glad that Unite is helping to lead this cause. After all, looking out for people in tough times is what we have always
done best.

It’s great that we are all coming together to make sure that families living in crisis can at least have some food on the table for Christmas Day.

I could not sit down to enjoy my Christmas dinner knowing that there were people who did not have one. Don’t forget – it’s not too late for you to help.



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PhilDidge wrote:

Catman wrote:

Well you accused me of impersonating you...Do you really think that i could have managed to do that on here, whilst i replied to your posts on here as well...I really did think that it was you for a while.   

Well as all the posts were replying to you and you have a history of doing so, what do you think?

To be honest I could not care if it was you, to do so is silly just to garner support, who ever does such a thing has no belief in their own posts

I don't have any kind of history impersonating anyone.

I even sent a PM to Ben about it because it was such a ridiculous accusation on here, so that doesn't involve any other forum.

Catman wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:

Well as all the posts were replying to you and you have a history of doing so, what do you think?

To be honest I could not care if it was you, to do so is silly just to garner support, who ever does such a thing has no belief in their own posts

I don't have any kind of history impersonating anyone.

I even sent a PM to Ben about it because it was such a ridiculous accusation on here, so that doesn't involve any other forum.

Jesus wept!

Simple deduction, how many posters were on here when I joined that knew me?

Around 3 to 4 by any chance?

PhilDidge wrote:

Irn Bru wrote:

Same with you on the jumped up Jocks incident then..
Good for the goose and all that.

Which was ages ago again dear me you are getting desperate again and excusing her poor stereotyping, I admitted I was wrong , she has stated again she stands by it and yet no word from you on that.

Hilarious double standards in motion

Doesn't matter when it was - you said it. And you have brought up the Irish comment which shows that you have absolutely no problem bringing up previous comments.

Good for the goose,,,right?

...There is a thread on here where flap got the wrong end of the stick, i went back and highlighted the quotes in red....I was quoting and not impersonating.

Catman wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:

Well as all the posts were replying to you and you have a history of doing so, what do you think?

To be honest I could not care if it was you, to do so is silly just to garner support, who ever does such a thing has no belief in their own posts

I don't have any kind of history impersonating anyone.

I even sent a PM to Ben about it because it was such a ridiculous accusation on here, so that doesn't involve any other forum.

You have always been honest with your identity Phil.

Others have form, serious form.

Irn Bru wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:


Which was ages ago again dear me you are getting desperate again and excusing her poor stereotyping, I admitted I was wrong , she has stated again she stands by it and yet no word from you on that.

Hilarious double standards in motion

Doesn't matter when it was - you said it. And you have brought up the Irish comment which shows that you have absolutely no problem bringing up previous comments.

Good for the goose,,,right?

As seen I admitted and apologised to you over that, which shows you are now excusing her discrimination off the back of something I admitted myself was wrong, of which she is still sticking to saying she believes.

Please you are getting very desperate defending a wrong here, showing your inability to be fair also, so please do continue!

PhilDidge wrote:

Catman wrote:

I don't have any kind of history impersonating anyone.

I even sent a PM to Ben about it because it was such a ridiculous accusation on here, so that doesn't involve any other forum.

Jesus wept!

Simple deduction, how many posters were on here when I joined that knew me?

Around 3 to 4 by any chance?

I posted the link to this forum, that's when flap knew that i was i was philagain and banned me!...He read this forum and put two and two together!

I really am not interested Philagain, I know what has gone on, it is not difficult to work out!

....I was posting there as Catman....Short fucking memory?

Because I wasn't stereotyping, I was talking about the attitude to sex, that pervaded the government because of its links with the RC church, and allowed those things to happen.

No I have a great memory, I am just not fooled by only a few people knowing me here when I joined and all the conversations with the fake Didge/Puriel were with you wish is odd, from my point of view and on things that are related topics to you also, coincidence?

PhilDidge wrote:I really am not interested Philagain, I know what has gone on, it is not difficult to work out!

Perhaps you should look at the guest thread in music!

I was posting here way back last summer and then left and joined again  

Sassy wrote:Because I wasn't stereotyping, I was talking about the attitude to sex, that pervaded the government because of its links with the RC church, and allowed those things to happen.

No they are poor stereotypes and one clearly you have not been to Ireland for sometime either, being as many of the younger generation more so in Cities are very open minded over the attitude to sex. Even if some think sex before marriage is wrong, good luck to them, the fact is you cast this as a view based upon a government decision, that would be like me blaming you and the nation you for a decision by the Tory party, it would be daft

PhilDidge wrote:

Irn Bru wrote:

Doesn't matter when it was - you said it. And you have brought up the Irish comment which shows that you have absolutely no problem bringing up previous comments.

Good for the goose,,,right?

As seen I admitted and apologised to you over that, which shows you are now excusing her discrimination off the back of something I admitted myself was wrong, of which she is still sticking to saying she believes.

Please you are getting very desperate defending a wrong here, showing your inability to be fair also, so please do continue!

Oh spare me the tears about being fair. You accused me of being a liar and you were wrong so you will get no sympathy from me after that. I have always supported you in the way you fight against racism and homophobia but you lost the plot and lost control and that's where we are now.

Deal with it.

Irn Bru wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:

As seen I admitted and apologised to you over that, which shows you are now excusing her discrimination off the back of something I admitted myself was wrong, of which she is still sticking to saying she believes.

Please you are getting very desperate defending a wrong here, showing your inability to be fair also, so please do continue!

Oh spare me the tears about being fair. You accused me of being a liar and you were wrong so you will get no sympathy from me after that. I have always supported you in the way you fight against racism and homophobia but you lost the plot and lost control and that's where we are now.

Deal with it.

Clearly you have not read any threads on page 7 Israel, not looking for tears either just exposing you for being a complete hypocritical twat on people using stereotypes, is no problem, you exposed your double standards trying poorly to excuse another posting doing so and all have seen and it has made me very happy!

 :D

PhilDidge wrote:No I have a great memory, I am just not fooled by only a few people knowing me here when I joined and all the conversations with the fake Didge/Puriel were with you wish is odd, from my point of view and on things that are related topics to you also, coincidence?

You know what!

I'm getting mighty fed up with your lies now!

It's Big Andy (your mate) that has the history of impersonating people, like on ADO....Perhaps you should look more towards his direction, but you won't because he's a Tory and you refuse to think that a fellow Tory could do any wrong.

Sassy wrote:Because I wasn't stereotyping, I was talking about the attitude to sex, that pervaded the government because of its links with the RC church, and allowed those things to happen.

That's easy to understand but some people will twist your words to suit their own agenda and try to use them against you.
Just like Tories choking to death on their Christmas dinner.

  

Catman wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:No I have a great memory, I am just not fooled by only a few people knowing me here when I joined and all the conversations with the fake Didge/Puriel were with you wish is odd, from my point of view and on things that are related topics to you also, coincidence?

You know what!

I'm getting mighty fed up with your lies now!

It's Big Andy (your mate) that has the history of impersonating people, like on ADO....Perhaps you should look more towards his direction, but you won't because he's a Tory and you refuse to think that a fellow Tory could do any wrong.

Now i know it was you after that, because Andy and I are at odds most of the time and agree on little

Irn Bru wrote:

Sassy wrote:Because I wasn't stereotyping, I was talking about the attitude to sex, that pervaded the government because of its links with the RC church, and allowed those things to happen.

That's easy to understand but some people will twist your words to suit their own agenda and try to use them against you.
Just like Tories choking to death on their Christmas dinner.

  

More evidence irn excuses discrimination, love it!

Exposed

 :D 

PhilDidge wrote:

Irn Bru wrote:

Oh spare me the tears about being fair. You accused me of being a liar and you were wrong so you will get no sympathy from me after that. I have always supported you in the way you fight against racism and homophobia but you lost the plot and lost control and that's where we are now.

Deal with it.

Clearly you have not read any threads on page 7 Israel,  not looking for tears either just exposing you for being a complete hypocritical twat on people using stereotypes, is no problem, you exposed your double standards trying poorly to excuse another posting doing so and all have seen and it has made me very happy!

 :D

Oh dear, the blood vessels are really pumping in you now and I feel another of your meltdowns is about to arrive.

CYA tomorrow when maybe you have calmed down a bit.

Toodle pip old chap

  

.

PhilDidge wrote:

Catman wrote:

You know what!

I'm getting mighty fed up with your lies now!

It's Big Andy (your mate) that has the history of impersonating people, like on ADO....Perhaps you should look more towards his direction, but you won't because he's a Tory and you refuse to think that a fellow Tory could do any wrong.

Now i know it was you after that, because Andy and I are at odds most of the time and agree on little

It had nothing to do with me...As i told you via PM.

Believe what you want....In reply to your original PM.

Irn Bru wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:


Clearly you have not read any threads on page 7 Israel,  not looking for tears either just exposing you for being a complete hypocritical twat on people using stereotypes, is no problem, you exposed your double standards trying poorly to excuse another posting doing so and all have seen and it has made me very happy!

 :D

Oh dear, the blood vessels are really pumping in you now and I feel another of your meltdowns is about to arrive.

CYA tomorrow when maybe you have calmed down a bit.

Toodle pip old chap

  

.

Laters finger puppet, you have been exposed and I love it!

  

And its toodle pip from me to cap doffer. I've had enough custard for one night.

So no answer to the poor stereotype, no suprise there then.

Laters Stasi