TWITTER users have hit out a Tory's "seriously bonkers" claim that providing free meals for children results in that food being “sold or traded for drugs”.
Mark Jenkinson, who represents Workington in Cumbria, made the comments while coming to the defence of Ben Bradley, the Tory MP who yesterday suggested providing free school meals “effectively” handed cash directly to “crack dens and brothels”.
Bradley replied to a tweet which read: “£20 cash direct to a crack den and brothel really sounds like the way forward with this one …” by saying: “That’s what FSM vouchers in the summer effectively did …”
READ MORE: Mark Jenkinson MP claims free school meals are 'sold or traded for drugs'
Bradley’s comment has caused widespread outrage, with Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner saying that such “stigmatisation of working class families is disgraceful and disgusting”.
Now, Jenkinson has come to his Tory colleagues defence, accusing Rayner of being “disingenuous” or clueless.
He said: “Here, @AngelaRayner is either being disingenuous or really hasn’t a clue what goes on in her constituency. I hope for the sake of her constituents it’s the former.
“I know in my constituency that, as tiny as a minority it might be, food parcels are sold or traded for drugs.”
Jenkinson, who in 2015 stood as a UKIP candidate before claiming his seat for the Tory party as part of the fall of the “red wall” in 2019, added: “And that’s parcels, not vouchers - which have greater monetary value.
“As I said, a relatively minuscule number - but we can’t pretend it doesn’t happen. Pretending, to score political points, helps no-one.”
And that’s parcels, not vouchers - which have greater monetary value.
— Mark Jenkinson MP (@markjenkinsonmp) October 23, 2020
As I said, a relatively minuscule number - but we can’t pretend it doesn’t happen. Pretending, to score political points, helps no-one.
The tweet has been widely criticised from people across the political spectrum, including SNP MP Chris Law, Labour MP Jess Phillips, Green MSP Ross Greer and comedian James Felton.
Here are the best reactions:
1.
This is seriously bonkers. Suggesting drug dealers new currency is penne pasta, tinned beans and corned beef is extremely unlikely & doesn’t explain why punish millions of children and their struggling parents in England by voting against free school meals #EndPoverty @theSNP https://t.co/764V7nJvqK
— Chris Law MP (@ChrisLawSNP) October 24, 2020
2.
Imagine you’re a dealer and someone comes up to ya asking for a key n they try pay with a fucking sandwich https://t.co/SCGhFAycCE
— Oli (@0li_Ol1) October 24, 2020
3.
I guess, using your logic, MPs should not receive a salary because some of you spend it on drugs?
— Schmoozypuffs (@HannahLind9) October 24, 2020
4.
Bruv what do you reckon the street value of this is pic.twitter.com/FO2kELnmjS
— Ahir Shah (@AhirShah) October 23, 2020
5.
Imagine hating being called Tory scum and saying Tory-esque scummy things like this https://t.co/bWIZjBwqxr
— The Haunting of Villa DioDanti (@FilmCriticMaybe) October 24, 2020
READ MORE: Free school meals: These Scots Tories voted against the Labour motion
6.
This whole thread has me crying. Tory scum stigmatising every low income family as is common practice in their party. Imagine thinking drug dealers are accepting a pack of basmati as payment. https://t.co/ZUYTNzqrrJ
— Jake Tolliday (@JakeTolliday) October 24, 2020
7.
This may be blatantly bullshit, but it has a creepy, insidious purpose. To start preparing the way for the introduction of food stamps. One of the very worst US "welfare" policies. https://t.co/6g1O6FCRUF
— T_i_B (@T_i_B) October 24, 2020
8.
“As tiny a minority as it might be” meaning by your own admission that you’ll vote against the “majority” of vulnerable children getting FSM vouchers. You are scum of the highest order. What a desperate outlook on things, to suit your agenda. https://t.co/zgK37f2FwT
— Pride of Merseyside 💨 (@notbitterbetter) October 24, 2020
9.
I refuse to give my kids mini cheddars any more, they’ll only spend it on heroin. https://t.co/aP0GAMHovW
— James Felton (@JimMFelton) October 24, 2020
10.
In all my years covering the crime and court beat I have not heard of a single incident of food parcels being traded for drugs. Not one. Ever. But I have covered countless cases of dealers exploiting the poor, the hungry, and the vulnerable. https://t.co/x7kTydqWJE
— Jason Evans 🏴 🇪🇺 (@EvansTheCrime) October 24, 2020
11.
Dom Cummings is about to cut the wires to the internet, isn’t he? 😂😂😂😂 https://t.co/WtW8e5ZXtE
— Clare with no i (@clarelouisekc) October 23, 2020
12.
So people are now trading food bank food for drugs? Heard it all now!! Could the Tories sink any lower https://t.co/a2wr3KcBR1
— EdinburghRocks (@one_scottish) October 24, 2020
13.
Even if this were true, which I have to say seems unlikely that drug dealers are accepting fray bentos pies and frozen peas, why would you punish millions for the sake of stopping it a handful of times. Maybe you want all hard up parents to be vilified. https://t.co/J2FqicMjbv
— Jess Phillips MP (@jessphillips) October 23, 2020
14.
"What you after mate?"
— Mark Worgan (@worgztheowl) October 23, 2020
"Gram of coke."
"That'll be 12 Dairylea, a ham roll, and a Mars Bar." https://t.co/P51EoXGLoZ
15.
My partner runs a food bank. You really don’t get much on the street for 3 tins of tomatoes, a bag of pasta & some chocolate Hobnobs, pal. Utterly fucking sick of thick empathy-impaired fools who’ve confused their luck in being able to coast through life with moral superiority. https://t.co/N2VeXY4x8Q
— Kirstin Innes (@kirstininnes) October 23, 2020
16.
I hope the people of Workington are reading this tonight and resolve to make sure that this is the first and last time that a Tory is elected to represent this constituency at a general election. https://t.co/FTLPRhShuN
— Paul Sweeney (@PaulJSweeney) October 23, 2020
17.
Cant believe blue passports and anger at free broadband got these people a majority. https://t.co/KMsRLM1iya
— Alexander (@AlexThomasLogan) October 23, 2020
18.
And these people were upset at the suggestion they are scum... https://t.co/YH5AyPhBZb
— Ross Greer (@Ross_Greer) October 23, 2020
19.
The Tory Party seem determined to make everyone think they’re demented lunatics. Completely unfit to run anything, let alone the country https://t.co/BHaTr249uc
— David Baines #StHelensTogether (@davidebaines) October 23, 2020
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