There's something about Tories visiting foodbanks that leaves an unpleasant taste in the mouth.
Under the Conservative government's disasterous roll-out of Universal Credit, the use of foodbanks has spiralled to the highest rates on record. Figures from the Trussell Trust in March showed that there had been a 13% increase in the number of three-day emergency packages needed in just a single year.
It would take a staggering lack of self-awarness for any Tory to pop round to their local foodbank with a bag of donate, and gamely smile for the cameras as if they aren't, to a degree, personally responsible for the crisis many face.
Thankfully, when it comes to a lack of self-awareness, Tory MP Ross Thomson is always willing to put his on show.
Today I visited @Tesco Wellington Road to meet volunteers for @TrussellTrust and @FareShareUK. I was pleased to make a donation to the local food bank to help those who are vulnerable and in need #EveryCanHelps. pic.twitter.com/RbSjHixgJX
— Ross Thomson MP (@RossThomson_MP) November 30, 2018
Thomson snapped a quick pic in a Tesco as he donated a bag of food to his local foodbank before sharing it on Twitter.
Readers, let me tell you... it did not go well for him.
At the time of writing, his post had 62 retweets, 137 likes and a staggering 2,322 comments.
You can guess what other Twitter users had to say about the sheer brass neck on display.
People don't need foodbanks by mistake, pal.
— Tragic Goth Dad (@redrichie) December 2, 2018
"...to help those who are vulnerable and in need"
— Sarah Mackie (@lumi_1984) December 1, 2018
You utter hypocrite.
You'd help people a damn sight more if you used any of the influence you lot claim to have within your party to enact real, actual change, and ensure people didn't need to use foodbanks in the first place. pic.twitter.com/uB3KrIbwko
Your party created the need for food banks so to see you construct some craven disingenuous photo-op out of this abject situation is utterly disgusting. Wee see you.
— Kieran Hurley (@kieran_hurley) December 2, 2018
Don't be shocked. He had his photo taken at the Rape Crisis centre in Aberdeen, too, around the time the Rape Clause form was revealed. He has absolutely no shame.
— Fiona Robertson (@FionaSnp) November 30, 2018
What are you doing fix the poverty problems your government has caused?
— Tracy King (@tkingdot) December 1, 2018
Overload pic.twitter.com/7ZjdmMLjlJ
— SAOR ALBA 19 McBOT (@DAVIDGHOWIE1) December 1, 2018
Do this silently and anonymously. That would be more appreciated. We don't want food banks. We want our goddamn dignity back.
— єlιzα ρlαgυєтнιηg вєαηмєαтs BOT (@NyoEi) December 1, 2018
I'm amazed you Tories have the nerve to do this stuff, let alone crow about it afterwards. Your callous austerity measures cause these problems!
— Cobbler Bob #FinalSay #DontBackTheBrexitDeal (@CobblerBob2) December 1, 2018
Need I say more? pic.twitter.com/3vVVJFLXGC
— EUPhile #FBPE🏴🏴🇮🇪 (@EUPhile2016) December 1, 2018
5th largest economy in the world. 1 in 5 living in poverty. It’s tragic that food banks exist. Being kind I’d say if you are truly concerned about the root causes of food bank use you could lobby your PM whose government has overseen an exponential rise in food bank use.
— Disco D (@DiscoDT) December 2, 2018
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