While Labour MP's story of fights over discount food in her local Tesco is drowned out by laughter from Government benches
Tory ministers have been condemned for not taking the plight Britain's poor seriously after a rowdy Commons debate on food banks during which the Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith refused to answer questions and left early.
As Fiona MacTaggart, the Labour MP for Slough, described how
people battled over end of day bargains in her local Tesco, she was almost
drowned out by laughter and jeering from the government benches.
Ms MacTaggart could barely be heard over the braying as she
described how the supermarket had been forced to draft in extra security and
asked “Isn't that a shocking sign in the 21st century?”
Labour MP for Copeland in Cumbria, Jamie Reed told The
Mirror: “I regret to say the laughter from the government benches says more
about this issue than words ever could.”
Iain Duncan Smith, the work and pensions secretary, and the
remaining government ministers from his department left the debate after an
hour, well before its conclusion.
Barry Gardiner, Labour MP for Brent said it was “extraordinary”
to see Mr Duncan Smith smirking as it was pointed out that half a million people
are now using food banks - and the minister refused to answer any questions
directly, instead leaving them to be fielded by his deputy, Esther McVey.
The Trussell Trust, the nation's largest provider of food
banks, with almost 400 branches said it was “disappointed” by the attitude of
those who jeered.
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