Ashfield MP Lee Anderson provoked outrage yesterday after he invited everybody on the opposition benches in the House of Commons to visit a food bank in Ashfield, Notts, where, when people come for a food parcel, they now need to register for a budgeting course and a cooking course. The standard UC allowance for households is 334.91 a month for single claimants aged 25 or over, or 525.72 a month for joint claimants with either aged 25 or over. Couple find note in chimney that reveals their 290,000 house was 100 times cheaper 50 years ago. [14] The investigation was opened on the grounds that he was an active member of a Facebook group in which other members supported Tommy Robinson and promoted George Soros conspiracy theories. UK . 'I will also be writing to the House of Commons authorities to stress that this is a very dangerous political strategy.'. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said she was attacked by an insane woman in a restaurant on Monday night. [10], During the campaign, he was criticised for staging a door knock while he was being filmed for a report by Channel 4 News reporter Michael Crick. James O'Brien has branded Tory MP Lee Anderson a "con artist" and a "poster boy for Boris Johnson's Brexit Britain". They said the system was designed to ensure "working always pays more", and the government was "building on this" with extra measures - such as claimants being required to meet a dedicated work coach to increase their hours or earnings. Fellow Labour MP Angela Eagle said Mr Anderson's comments were 'crass and cruel in equal measure'. Mr Anderson spoke in a Commons debate today (January 10) amid ongoing strike action by workers, including NHS staff. What has happened to the once-great British Airways? ", Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson claims it is a 'myth' people on Universal Credit are in poverty, Lee Anderson is deputy chairman of the Conservative Party. Not this massive use! Tory MP slams food banks, Peston: Tory MP claims 'no massive need' for food banks, Lee Anderson explained his high expenses were to pay his staff, Labour MP Alex Cunningham asked if it was "necessary to have food banks in 21st Century Britain", The Energy Price Cap in the UK has risen exponentially in the past decade, Karen Buck described Mr Anderson's comments as "beyond belief" given the cost of living crisis, Are two-year MOTs dangerous? Details of the MP expense claim system budgets can be found on the website of the Independent Parliamentary Standard Authority. He claimed food bank users in his constituency are shown how to cook meals for about 30 pence a day. And today he claimed to the Sunday Mirror that not all people who use food banks are poor. Mr Anderson said he had purchased the new-build house for almost half a million pounds to give him and his wife, who he said was terminally ill, greater security after being targeted by protesters. [22] Following the publication of an interim report on the connections between colonialism and National Trust properties, including links with historic slavery,[23] Anderson was among the signatories of a letter by the group in The Telegraph in November 2020. WebIm Lee Anderson, your local Conservative Member of Parliament for Ashfield & Eastwood. If youre going to eat nutritious meals, the chance are youre not going to be overweight.'. Lee Anderson Expense Claims Details of the MP expense claim system budgets can be found on the website of the Independent Parliamentary Standard 'Too easy' to blame cost of living crisis. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said neither he nor the government shared Anderson's stance. [28][29], In November 2021, Anderson voiced his support for offshore processing of asylum applications in the Falkland Islands and lobbied an immigration minister on the subject. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, What Alex Murdaugh's double murder trial jury saw during walkthrough at family's frozen in time hunting lodge: Bullet holes riddle windows, forgotten 'Buster' plant pot sits on porch and abandoned bicycle lies on front lawn, Trans teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts is FINALLY put on leave after it was revealed they don't wear them outside of school - as parents line up to criticize school board at meeting, More than a DOZEN whistleblowers came forward to claim Hunter Biden was involved in criminal activity, Republican Senator reveals for the first time during grilling of AG Merrick Garland, Is air travel going to get even MORE expensive? 'Its about tackling obesity as well. If you can, please show your appreciation for our free content by donating whatever you think is fair to help keep TLE growing and support real, independent, investigative journalism. Lee Anderson, Conservative MP for Ashfield (Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Express) Nottinghamshire Tory MP Lee Anderson has attracted criticism on social Andy Bell LinkedIn: MP Lee Anderson: New deputy Tory chairman clashes with radio presenter When asked by a Labour MP if it should be necessary to have food banks in 21st century Britain, Anderson said there is not this massive use for food banks in the UK, but generation after generation who cannot cook properly and cannot budget. This is Lee Anderson, Conservative MP for Ashfield. [42], Anderson is married to Sinead,[53] a Conservative councillor on Mansfield District Council who has represented the ward of Eakring since 2019. She's struggling to feed her kids - and has kept a video diary that shows how the cost of living crisis is affecting her family. After joining the Commons, Mr Anderson made headlines again when he announced he would not watch England matches during the Euro 2020 football tournament. Katy The challenge is there. [41] Monroe later instructed lawyers to start a claim against Anderson. Government cost cutting measures slammed, Cost of living crisis 'Desperate cry for help' of disabled people, Supplies of gas have been hard-hit by the war in Ukraine, exacerbating the cost of living, Ministers under pressure to cut taxes to aid cost of living, Energy crisis makes life intolerable for disabled - EXPRESS COMMENT, Nothing to offer' Lib Dem MP slams weakness of Queen's Speech, Sunak warned 'more trouble' for UK economy without new measures, Tory MP sparks fury as he admits cost of living not affecting him, Families fear for future as the cost of living crisis bites, Ferrari erupts as energy crisis leaves Brits 'burning firewood at home. Tory deputy chairman Lee Anderson claims it is a 'myth' people on Universal Credit are in poverty. The average costs claimed by MPs in a calendar year is 203,880. Attempting to clarify his remarks to the BBC, the Tory MP later tweeted: 'I was very clear that we all appreciate the fantastic work of our nurses. Conservative MP Lee Anderson has said that people were more resourceful in the past, comparing his family garden growing up to modern food banks. 'But generation after generation who cannot cook properly, they can't cook a meal from scratch. Sun 7th Aug 2022 60144449-2. "It is all about priorities. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. Karen Buck, Labour's shadow work and pensions minister, described Mr Andersons comments, especially during a cost of living crisis, as beyond belief. WebMhairi Black. REVEALED: 'Bomb' almost smuggled onto passenger plane in Pennsylvania was a commercial grade FIREWORK School places in chaos: Parents' desperation as one in three children miss out on preferred secondary - with Holiday home owners in Scotland face new SNP tax hike under plans from front-runner to be new First Scotland should just self-identify as an independent country, one SNP member proposed. DON'T MISS:Energy crisis makes life intolerable for disabled - EXPRESS COMMENT[OPINION]Nothing to offer' Lib Dem MP slams weakness of Queen's Speech[REPORT]Sunak warned 'more trouble' for UK economy without new measures[REPORT]. Journalism in Britain is under threat. [42], The following month, Anderson said that Prime Minister Boris Johnson was the victim of "a witch hunt led by the BBC", shortly after the results of a Conservative vote of confidence in Johnson's leadership was announced. An alumnus of the esteemed Sandhurst Military Academy,Brig Colthupserved across the world for over three decades, including combat operations in tours of Afghanistan, Bosnia and the first Gulf War. How fitting! If I didn't pay my staff any wages, they would be using a food bank. More info. Which MP is backing whom the updated list. [19] He had previously worked as her office manager for five years. There are also estimated to be 1,200 independent food banks in addition to those run by the Trussell Trust, Salvation Army and those based in schools. Mr Anderson replied: 'He makes a great point and this is exactly my point. Lee Anderson MP shared a picture of Katy Colthup, a parliamentary researcher, and detailed her personal circumstances, saying she did not need to use a food bank, to his 46,000 Twitter followers, Katy's father is Brigadier David Colthup CBE (above, together) a senior member of the Armed Forces who was commissioned into the historic Green Howards Yorkshire Regiment in 1989. But we can't do it without you. View Lee Anderson's MPs' expenses at MPsExpenses.info Conservative, Ashfield Conservative, Ashfield Lee Anderson's MPs' expenses Conservative, Never heard such a ridiculous thing in my life.'. Ms Colthup, who read politics at the University of Nottingham, previously attended the fee-paying St Peter's School in York, where tuition starts at 11,310 per term for boarding pupils, Her mother, Jane Colthup (above), is the chief executive of Community First Yorkshire - a charity working across the region for a range of rural causes. "That was our food bank, we had nowhere else to go, we provided for ourselves. 'To criticise anybody using a foodbank is disgusting, heartless and dangerously out of touch,' she said. "I'll tell you why because there is a reluctance in certain parts of this country now to get to the root of this problem. her added. In a round of interviews this morning, Mr Gove distanced himself from the comments. They cannot budget. Mr Anderson based his claim that meals could be made for as little as 30p on a day spent learning to cook and budget under the instruction of a professional chef. Youve got generation after generation who cannot cook properly. A large grin visible on Anderson's face as he attempts to outmanoeuvre Bray, the MP is then ushered inside the building by a member of armed security. Tory scumbag MP Lee Anderson claimed that "the UK has no "massive use for food banks" and that people use them because Office, Staffing and Accomodation expenses are subject to a budget cap, only travel and subsistence claims are unlimited. The comments below have not been moderated. And he spent 67.57 on hospitality. They eventually said, 'well it's the cost of living crisis isn't it?'. A Tory MP's attempt to defend Lee Anderson after he made contentious remarks about food banks has backfired.. Last week Anderson sparked outrage after he invited everybody on the opposition benches in the Commons to visit a food bank in his Nottinghamshire constituency where people now need to register for a budgeting course The new title is a reflection If you are using foodbanks and your average salary is 35,000 a year then something is wrong with your budgeting because 35,000 is not a salary on which you want to be relying on foodbanks. Mr Anderson was also criticised after being caught out setting up a door knock while canvassing. The MPs all seem to claim they need those expenses because of the cost of living in London. Read more, Editorial enquiries, please contact: [emailprotected], Commercial enquiries, please contact: [emailprotected]. Come next week, the week after, and see a real food bank thats making a real difference to peoples lives., He added: What we do in the food bank, we show them how to cook cheap and nutritious meals on a budget. According to IPSA data, Anderson claimed 219,703.44 as business costs from 2020 to 2021 bringing his office, staffing, accommodation, travel and subsistence claims higher than the average 203,880 claimed by MPs. But I think in the phraseology the wrong message came across.. Find address The Travellers I am talking about are more likely to be seen leaving your garden shed at 3 o'clock in the morning, probably with your lawnmower and half of your tools. A Tory MP has sparked a backlash after he claimed nurses using food banks had something wrong with their own finances. ", "MPs back Covid passes in England despite huge Tory rebellion", "Tory MP blames food poverty on lack of cooking skills", "Why is Tory MP Lee Anderson called '30p Lee? Anderson was born in Nottinghamshire, attending John Davies Primary School and Ashfield School. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Of course we want to do everything possible in order to make sure that people are paid well and in accordance with their skills, But we also have to balance that against the need to make sure public funds are spent wisely.. The controversial Tory MP dismisses calls to extend free school meals to all children on UC, suggesting families should instead return to "traditional values" of growing their own fruit and vegetables. [45] After Badenoch was eliminated, he supported Liz Truss, who was ultimately successful. Anderson worked as a coal miner for ten years, and then volunteered for Citizens Advice for another decade. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. And this is cooking from scratch.'. I was born here, grew up here, worked down the mines here, and now I am lucky enough to represent Ashfield in Parliament as your MP. Mr Anderson, earning 84,144 himself as a member of parliament, invited his peers in the Commons to come to Ashfield to experience their allegedly unique food banks. He told TalkTV: "That's to pay my staff wages. ", Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player. In 2020/21, around one in five people in the UK were considered to be in poverty - 13.4 million people, the Joseph Rowntree Foundation estimated. Do not sell or share my personal information. WebBBC News - MP Lee i think the plan for the appointment of the new Deputy Chairman to act as an ongoing media distraction from other issues is working well. Have your say in the comments section below, Viewers switch off from 'unhappy' Prince Harry interview, Changing face of city's food and drink scene after tough few years, Anger over 'disgraceful scandal' as Nottingham's Debenhams falling into disrepair, The tragic cases of 3 people found dead in Notts who have never been identified, Join Slimming World for free with this great offer - claim now to kickstart your journey, Lee Anderson, Conservative MP for Ashfield. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities, Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, Department for International Development (Defunct), Department for Exiting the European Union (Defunct), Independent Parliamentary Standard Authority. I think youll see first-hand that theres not this massive use for food banks in this country. Mr Anderson soon defected to the Tories and was later elected a Conservative councillor. He has been the Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party since February 2023. Revealed: Staff member 'on less than 30k' used by the Tory MP Lee Anderson as argument against nurses needing to use foodbanks went to 33,000-a-year [49][50], Anderson was appointed as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party in February 2023. He makes a great point, and this is exactly my point. Brexit , Cost of Living Crisis , Economy , Education , Environment , Immigration , Justice , 2020-21 Top Stories. 2019 thelondoneconomic.com - TLE, International House, 24 Holborn Viaduct, London EC1A 2BN. Nottinghamshire Tory MP Lee Anderson has attracted criticism on social media over comments he made about public sector workers. The MP has repeatedly refused to backtrack and recently doubled down on his claims, including shared a picture of Weetabix in milk as proof you could make a '30p breakfast'. Conservative MP Lee Anderson has been criticised after claiming nurses or anyone using a food bank while earning 30,000 a year was not managing money properly. It presupposes you're buying in bulk, cooking with big catering trays and have the storage". Lee Anderson has been made deputy chairman of the Conservative party. [33][34], In May 2022, Anderson was criticised by opposition politicians and the food poverty campaigner Jack Monroe for suggesting in parliament that there was not a "massive" need for food banks in the UK, and their use was related to a lack of teaching on budgeting and cooking. [29][31] Anderson in a later interview in February 2023 commented when asked on how he would respond to the small boats migrant crisis, "I'd send them straight back the same day. By Jessica Warren and Greg Heffer, Political Correspondent For Mailonline, Published: 16:13 GMT, 11 May 2022 | Updated: 09:25 GMT, 12 May 2022. The Tory MP, known for his outspoken views on food poverty, also criticised a school that had been running a breakfast club for all its pupils, which ended after it ran out of private funding. Office Costs (Software & applications) Description. Monroe, who won a rancorous . That happens every single time they come to Ashfield". Earlier this month, in a tweet, Mr Anderson used one of his members of staff to double down on his point that nurses earning around 30,000 a year should not need to use food banks. "And I dispel that myth right now. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. Prior to the visit, Anderson was recorded on his microphone instructing a man to "make out you know who I am, that you know I'm the candidate but not that you are a friend". Hollis alleges that Anderson accused him in a Facebook post of exchanging cash in brown envelopes over a planning application. Mr Anderson said: My thanks to the honourable gentlemen. [27], The same month, in a debate on the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Anderson accused the Traveller community in Ashfield of thievery, stating, "the Gypsy encampments that we are talking about in places such as Ashfield are not the traditional, old-fashioned Gypsies sat there playing the mandolin, flogging lucky heather and telling fortunes. 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