to think ed milliband is lying about spending 70-80 a week on food

[sazham2]

No way does someone that is a millionaire and earns about 7-8k a week with a family of 4 spend 70-80.

In touch Ed claimed that his family of four spent “probably £70, £80 a week on groceries a week, probably more than that” when hijacked with the perfectly reasonable question on ITV’s Good Morning Britain:

order-order.com/2014/05/20/mili-onaire-eds-cost-of-living-crisis/

[sazham2]

Grr thats ed obviously, phone keyboard :(

[esberj]

I'd say the 'probably more than that' part is correct. Of course he's lying!

[Lottieandmia]

Just because someone is very well off, that does not mean they blow their cash on everything and spend more than others.

[LostMyPants]

Why not? We don't limit what we spend on food. Our total shopping bill is a little over £100 a week. That includes booze, household goods and nappies. So £70-80 sounds about right.

We don't have a ginormous disposable income but choose not to budget on food.

I'm no fan of Ed, but it could easily be true. Just because you're rich it doesn't mean you have to waste more food.

[Nomama]

But it could true.

Think about how many times he eats in meetings (catered), out at events (catered), etc, etc.

And the 'probably more than that' is the clue... and £100, £200...?

[esberj]

Though it could just be that he guessed and didn't know (I mean, does he do the weekly shop I wonder?) as the 'probably more' indicates. The article says that the average weekly grocery shop for a family of four is over £100

[HelpMeGetOutOfHere]

It could be true, my ds2 plays rugby and some of the parents are incredibly rich (directors of large multinational companies etc) and at the latest family picnic it was all aldi and lidl food. Me probably the least well off, well I'd forgotten and had to go to m&s food hall after dropping ds2 off and then go back.

I shop at Aldi the vast majority of the time, a family of 5, 4 adult sized appetites and one child and my shopping rarely comes to more than £80 including wine and sometimes steak, so it can be done. It may be that hes incredibly sensible with cash.

I'm not a fan of hi by any means and definitely not one of his voters.

[LadyWithLapdog]

He's still got just one stomach and one arse. Where do you want him to put all that food?

[esberj]

Yes, and he won't be including eating out.

[QuizzicalCat]

Well it's highly unlikely he's the one whizzing around Waitrose with a trolley, so I doubt that he has even the slightest idea how much the family food shop costs.

We're an average family and my dh has no idea whatsoever about our grocery bills because I do the shopping.

Ed couldn't possibly have said that though - because the alternatives are either his wife does it, backlash for perceived sexism - or the staff do it, political suicide for the leader of the Labour party.

[WilsonFrickett]

They both work and he most definitely gets subsidised lunches at the commons canteen so I can't see either of them doing pack ups. DCs are at school iirc, so out of nappies and probably get school lunches.

So I can easily see a family of four paying £80 on groceries per week tbh. Food is the one area I don't stint on and we spend about the same - but that's without including booze, lunches, meals out, cleaning supplies, etc.

It's actually quite hard to spend millions on food if you cook from scratch - I know that sounds patronising and I don't mean it to, I know a lot of people are struggling with their food budgets too - but if you're eating 'normal' food, not ready meals and take aways, not too much meat and as I say, no lunches in that budget, there is a limit to how much you spend.

[esberj]

Though I'd like to know how he does it if it is true (the 70-80) and still buy quality food, plus cleaning products/toiletries.

[RonSwansonsLushMoustache]

I don't see why he should have to be able to answer that question accurately off the top of his head.

DH often does the shopping and he reckons we spend about £40-50 a week, but that's without taking into account top up shops and wine, Barcardi and weekend meals. It's actually nearer £80-£90 for us two and DS.

[Pleasejustgo]

It's about right if you eat out most nights or subsist on the basics or if this amount doesn't include any condiments/spices/herbs/pantry things etc

Decent chicken is about £15 these days if that puts it into perspective.

[sazham2]

I don't know how you people that don't limit your food bill spend so little!

[bleedingheart]

I would be surprised if he knew to be honest!
I think a lot of us underestimate what we spend and most people say what their big shop costs and forget about meals out and top up shops.

I doubt he eats at home in the week.
Obviously if they really wanted to know if was up to speed on this issue they should have asked him how many meals you can get out of one chicken!

[sazham2]

don't see why he should have to be able to answer that question accurately off the top of his head.

Because he should have some idea of the real problems facing people as he always claims to.

[esberj]

Unless he's living on ready meals when not dining out. They're quite cheap I believe

[LostMyPants]

There's only so much we can eat. We have large appetites. But we don't waste food. Very little gets binned. My mum spends much more than us, but they don't eat everything they buy, some goes to waste.

[thecatfromjapan]

I was going to avoid this thread - I think it's just adding to negativising Labour in the run-up to the election.

However, this has actually, genuinely made me cross. Whoever is in charge of Labour's P.R.:

Get a grip! I am pissed off about this. For about four reasons. And I am a die-hard Labour supporter. I go out and leaflet for you.

Stop him, just stop him, from saying shit like this.

I'm actually begging you.

And in answer to the OP (and any Labour P.R. people reading): Of course he fucking doesn't. It's completely fucking patronising. Unless he genuinely doesn't know because he doesn't actually do the shopping, or the household accounts. Which is irritating for a whole different set of reasons (eg. why pretend? I'm not an idiot. I can accept he doesn't go out doing a family shop on a Saturday. I don't have time for that, and my job is very low-key.)

I'm now expecting loads of P.R. shots of Ed in Morrisons, pushing a bursting trolley. Which will irritate me afresh.

So, P.R. people, if you are reading, the above can be read as an analysis of how this has gone down with one of your core voters.

[Fluffycloudland77]

Maybe they shop at Aldi?

I'd imagine that he hasn't got a fucking clue how much his dw spends.

Plus they live in London. Not exactly an area known for being cheap to live in.

£80 is what his aides told him would look good in the daily fail.

[gordyslovesheep]

Still at least the op has stayed away from fat people this time

It's perfectly possible this is what they spend on food

I spend less on my weekly shop for four of us ...through choice

[LadyWithLapdog]

OP you don't make sense. For you 70-80 weekly shows he's out if touch as you spend more than that. For another family £70-80 weekly shows he's out if touch and living the life if Reilly. Do you have something else to start a thread on? There's an ongoing one about UKIP if you're running out of ideas.

[Nomama]

Crikey, pleasejustgo. £15 for a good chicken? I am one of those people who makes a chicken last a week (OK, 5 - 6 meals for 2 people). I only buy decent chicken, but it never costs that much.

Is this another reason to be glad I don't live in London - or similar Metropolis?