The Unpalatable Truth About Foodbanks

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13th March 2014


When the organisers of a charity food bank in Coventry received their 10,000th client, they held a ceremony during which the city’s mayor handed a free bag of shopping to a man considered to be the most deserving recipient.

Amid a ripple of applause from the crowd of officials, a grinning Darren Harvey stepped forward to receive the emergency supply of food, which was enough to feed him and his family for about three days.

The event was intended to highlight the plight of poor people who cannot afford to buy basic foodstuffs, a situation the Left has blamed on welfare cuts and described as a ‘national crisis’. It was filmed by a BBC TV team as part of a documentary called Britain’s Hidden Hungry.


The fly-on-the-wall crew gave viewers a revealing insight into 44-year-old Mr Harvey, however. For far from being deserving, he was exposed as a ‘conman’ — the local newspaper’s description — who was slyly taking jobs while claiming benefits, accusations he denies.

In addition it was claimed he had a string of petty criminal offences, had been accused of tricking two women out of thousands of pounds, and was alleged to have been evicited by his landlord after refusing to pay rent. Little wonder the BBC documentary described him as a man with a ‘sense of entitlement’.




A snapshot of food banks around the country shows that their popularity hardly equates to the Left’s picture of a ‘starving Britain’.

Nikki Sanders, a 39-year-old mother-of-five, was in genuine need when she used one in Wimbledon, South-West London, after getting a voucher from a government-backed ‘Sure Start’ nursery.

She had just divorced, was out of work and waiting for income support to come through.

‘I was given a huge box of food. I couldn’t believe how much there was. It lasted two or three weeks.’

However, she soon realised that others were routinely obtaining vouchers despite having enough money to squander on drink-fuelled nights out.

‘People I know told me they often use it if they have been out on benders over the weekend and spent all their benefits,’ she says.

‘Come Monday, they have no money left. Then they just ask the Sure Start nursery staff where they take their kids for vouchers. They just fill out a form and lie. It’s very easy and very cheeky.’

Miss Sanders says that such people felt no shame in taking food donated by kind-hearted volunteers: ‘Their attitude is to hell with them. It doesn’t worry them. Benefits cash isn’t for people to go out and get drunk on. But they seem to think that they’re entitled to it.’


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2579715/Unpalatable-truth-food-banks-Left-finds-hard-swallow-Political-football-undeserving-claimants-shame-genuine-need.html#ixzz2vpT0YhLF

Even the big cities - only immigrants vote Labour!

So you can all see it again:

BigAndy9 wrote:Now, why do you think the English are slightly miffed?

They wanted a key on the map?

Is the image above unpalatable for some?

So, the English aren't hard done by?

The English don't "deserve" their own Parliament?

BigAndy9 wrote:Is the image above unpalatable for some?

So, the English aren't hard done by?

The English don't "deserve" their own Parliament?

..yoube had your own parliament for years Andy, as well as controlling other home nations from Westminster, London.


I guess that's the ' patriotic' effect BNP, EDL and UKIP have had on some of you   

And that's how we voted in 2005 - when Labour "trounced" everybody and continued to rule over England and it's people:

Nems it is true that many people divert benefits into drink and ciggies and often the kids go without good food as a result.

The Karen Matthews of this world aren't just a handful of people. The really needy for food banks are often folks who work they have the extra cost of getting to work etc.

NemsAgain wrote:

PhilDidge wrote:



Sorry Nems, the cost of living has not changed that much in the last few years and wages have not increased with the cost of living within the last 10 years, thus the problem would still be as bad, if not worse before.
To me this shows they have always been needed, because not only do many manage without the use of foodbanks, but the fact is why is it now we have less people in this lowest income bracket, now need it more,when before they faced it in a worse position and many more within this position. The question only here will be on people and how they manage their money and if more are getting into debt, that would be the only other reason 

I think it is a poor view to blame on the recent Government or situation and think actually this started way back

Cost of living hasnt changed much? You are joking right? I know it has when I fill up my car or pay the gas bill!
The food banks are not springing up all over the place because people suddenly became irresponsible. They are needed because people in this country in 2014 are living hand to mouth. And that is a disgrace. What ever you think caused it and who ever you blame is irrelevant the fact is poverty is a growing problem.

There was a great bit on the rise in useage in foodbanks on Radio 2 the other day - was on Jeremy Vine show but he wasn't there so maybe available on IPlayer??? They pointed out that statistics won't be available for a few more years as they usually need 10 years worth to chart rises and falls accurately.

To be honest it wasn't something that I really ever heard of whilst living in the UK but know members of my family have been involved with US ones for many years. There has been a sharp rise where we live as there were a lot of layoffs, but its been mostly with the working poor, those who make basic minimum wage which in Arizona is $7.80 an hour which equates to £4.69 an hour - THIS is the simple reason why people rely on foodbanks.

Sure there will always be people who play the system - always been the way always will - you only have to look a the thriving black market during WW2. That doesn't mean it should stop for all.