Hunger In Britain Today

[naomi24]

Following on from the Food Banks thread, if hunger in Britain really is as prevalent as it's claimed to be, you would think the Daily Mirror, the champion of the ‘working classes’ might have taken the trouble to find a genuinely British, genuinely poor, child for its front page picture. If its headline is anything to go by it shouldn’t have been too difficult.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/andrewbrown/2014/apr/16/daily-mirror-weeping-child-lie-food-banks

Tut! Just who can you believe?

[Psybbo]

Smurf. that must be a minority

[sherrardk]

Yet more sanctimonious claptrap about booze, big tellies and tattoos - any shred of evidence to back this up?

[ToraToraTora]

"You think every person on benefits drinks and smokes? " - no 90% I reckon.

[ummmm]

Absolute Botox....

[sherrardk]

'I reckon' - exactly, because you have pre-conceived ideas about people claiming benefits when, in fact, you are talking out of your complacent arse. Lucky old you, hope you never end up in need of help from the welfare state.

[ToraToraTora]

"Absolute Botox.... " - quite right some of them have that too!

[naomi24]

Ummmm, if you don’t mind me asking why did you go hungry? And with the benefit of ‘benefits’ before the much criticised cuts, why were your outgoings more than your incomings?

[ummmm]

Because I split with my partner. I had a mortgage, bills and 3 kids on about 1/3 of the income.

I didn't get benefits, I had a job but that job didn't pay enough to cover everything.

People make decisions in life based on their circumstances. If we all put off having children, buying a house etc. just in case things might go tits up then no one would really achieve anything.

I put the house on the market but it's not like Svejk thinks....they don't sell over night and the mortgage and bills still need paying! So yes, I often went without food. One thing I did learn from that time....coffee kills your appetite.

[Svejk]

^^^lol. I'm getting a very bad press on these threads.
Maybe, its on account of being the poorest little fella on the answerbank that gives me a greater insight into whats happening down here.

[emmie]

i see lots of beggars on our streets, many appear to be from foreign ports, sorry if that offends, walking down Wood green high street and at least 6 with hands out, or simply sitting with a cup for the coins, others actively pleading, if they have come from places that are dirt poor, did they think that we are the land of milk and honey. And i do know some locals who spend all the dosh which is divied up between them on booze, not sure about the cigs, but certainly they are off their faces with whatever incredibly cheap but potent stuff they can buy with the proceeds, i only know this because i have come to know them.

[ummmm]

But are they using food banks?

[emmie]

could be, though hardened alcoholics, going on friends and a number of acquaintances in the past, rarely eat much, booze is their priority,
part of the problem could be that some people will rely on things which are free, same with benefits, if they are cut for whatever reason, and we know many have lost out, or having to pay more then you don't have the expertise to manage well, getting advice is always useful, but some people bury their head in the sand until its too late. Agencies also going on personal experience help those in need, on housing, benefit system, CAB as well as the likes of Age UK. Food vouchers would help i reckon.

[youngmafbog]

Many of the food banks are operated by left wingers who see it as their duty to bring teh Government down.

There are genuine people, but many of these are caused by civil servants doing a poor job or again with a left wing agenda to cause disruption.

Perhaps we should try sacking a few of them to sharpen their ideas and reduce the number of Guardian readers in Government posts.

As TTT says, just take a look at the queue, dont believe anyone else, and count those smoking, usually on a phone and those with their bottle of cheap cider.

No money should be given in benefits. A deal should be struck with some supermarkets for a food parcel. Benefits are a stop gap for those fallen on hard times so I am pretty sure the majority of genuine cases would be more than happy with that.

[keyplus90]

////Tut! Just who can you believe?////

That is exactly what I say when it comes to media.

[ToraToraTora]

ummmm, this may surprise you but I'm 1 of 6x kids brought up on benefits from a council estate, I know the whole thing from any angle. Yes there are cases like your own and there is no need to defend yourself, I get it. Sadly the vast majority are not like you, using it as a safetly net. There are career scroungers out there and I have yet to see anyone on benefits that is a non smoker/drinker most of them run cars have 50 inch screens, sky+, xbox, Iphone. etc they have to have something to do while I'm paying for their scrounging. Most of the food bank customers are street drunks that have food as a low priority. Take it from me as offspring of career scroungers myself. (PS I've paid into the pot many times what I used early on)

[HARPY]

No person goes hungry in this country with all the money the Tory/Lib government gives out or do they ?

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/health-news/malnutrition-cases-in-english-hospitals-almost-double-in-five-years-8945631.html


http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2509123/Malnutrition-cases-DOUBLE-years-poorer-families-struggle-survive-economic-downturn.html

[emmie]

how much is our annual welfare bill, it runs into billions, if so why would people not get the help they need,

[emmie]

this is where it goes,
http://www.theguardian.com/news/datablog/2013/jan/08/uk-benefit-welfare-spending

[anotheoldgit]

It's all part of a conspiracy on behalf of the left.

http://www.express.co.uk/comment/columnists/leo-mckinstry/470840/Despite-the-Left-s-claims-over-soaring-foodbank-use-Britain-is-not-going-hungry

/// One reporter, on a recent visit to the Hastings food bank, encountered a couple who arrived by taxi, even though there was a bus service between their home and the centre. ///

[emmie]

i am sure there are hungry people out there, some have been caught in the benefits trap, either delayed payments, or in between work, waiting for the monthly pay to come in.
and those who fall through the benefit net entirely,