Lot of words about nothing (Brian Nugent)
At the Althing debate I asked a question about foodbank usage among voters in Shetland which is increasing year on year.
I asked the Liberal Democrat candidate about his record in coalition of voting with the Tories on benefit issues.
I also asked the Tory candidate to defend his party benefit policies which have led to the increases in foodbank usage.
The very plausible Tory candidate ignored the question but used a lot of words to say nothing.
The Lib Dem candidate accused me of “weaponising” the foodbank issue, and said that this was not appropriate.
Given that in coalition government with the Tories, the Lib Dems voted on benefit issues like the bedroom tax, the Lib Dems share the blame for benefit changes and cuts leading to increases in foodbank usage.
Alistair Carmichael voted for the bedroom tax etc. If anyone “weaponised” the foodbank issue for voters in Orkney and Shetland it was our former MP.
Brian Nugent
Schoolhouse,
Hamnavoe,
Burra.
Michael Garriock
“Foodbanks” are a largely manufactured situation (for profit? – of whatever kind), there have always been facilities nationwide providing free/cheap food to those who “qualify” throughout the reigns of governments of all colours stretching back as far as anyone can remember.
The current ‘popularity’ of such things seems to be largely the baby of this somewhat bland and faceless organisation known as “The Trussel Trust” – who they are and what they are about is somewhat less clear, and whether they are responding solely to a pre-existing need, or working the situation so as to maximise the apparent need and their own popularity/success, is considerable more hazy.
What is obvious though, is that until and unless there is a very clear, widely known and consistent qualifying criteria nationwide, actual usage figures are meaningless, especially when it seems qualifying to benefit has everything to do with checking certain boxes and saying the right things to the right people, and very, very little to do with actual need.
ian tinkler
Foodbanks, Austerity, crocodile tears from the SNP. Shetland has funds by Edinburgh’s SNP whiles funding to Scotland, in actual terms, has increased from Westminster. Now if you want austerity look to Greece and Spain, 50% and 25% youth unemployment for starters. What a vision of an Indie Scotland if rejoined the EU, just what the SNP are working towards.