Comic relief - political impartilaity?

[mids2019]

Watched comic relief last night. Being objective about this if you were a conservative right wing type voted would many of the charities (and some of the comedy annoy you)? Food banks, homelessness, modern slavery etc. are all politically sensitive to some extent and government really does have influence on these issues.

I just wonder if Rishi Sunak would watch pieces on poverty in the UK and requests for donations to improve it in an entirely neutral manner? Personally I thought there were a few subtle dogs at the Tories from a group of celebrities I am workmanlike have left wing views (I can't see Lenny Henry voting Tory but I may be wrong). In addition I doubt comic relief will ever have a conservative politician appear in a sketch as Tony Blair once did.

Looking at the press this morning there is not one single mention of the event in the right wing press such as the Mail or Sun so I am guessing the whole comic relief thing is being met with disdain in the right leaning media.

I think you may be reading too much into this OP. Charity events can become so familiar and just almost another day, and much of the articles for a paper I guess are prepared earlier in the day.

Not that we should consider the projects that Comic Relief support and that they need to something familiar, acceptable and normal. For example, we should never accept homelessness.

The only thing that made me wince was the woman in Ghosts saying to Kylie "she's from Australia hide the silverware", but it was sort of explained away later.

I'm not right wing btw. The charities are just charities arent they? I mean, charities don't usually raise money for happy jolly causes.

I don’t think so. I think they mention U.K. charities a lot as they have been criticised in the past for doing more for overseas charities and they are maybe trying to say look we do a lot here too!
I thought some of it was genuinely funny last night . The traitors sketch made me laugh and the ridiculous song about donating money was also quite funny ( imo anyway!)

I think event sucks as Comic Relief and Children in Need whilst having an admirable intention have become less transparent. They give funds to numerous organisations which as the donator you do no know in advance - I have stopped giving to such charities for this reason. I do nor support nor want to support some of the charities they give money to and would therefore prefer to donate directly to a charity.

Comic Relief is very much overshadowed by St Patrick's Day and other news, so I wouldn't be surprised to see little mention of it in most newspapers.

One issue was when the cost of living was raised I was asked by my 12 year old daughter why there was poverty in the UK? Comic relief were trying to address this issue but surely as one of the richest nations on earth definitions of poverty, it's causes and solutions are linked to political decision making.

I know plenty of conśervatives who would argue there is very little absolute poverty in the UK and a constant focus on food banks is a distraction and a criticism of conservative government.

I just can't see Lee Anderson/Nigel Farage types watching with great pleasure really.

I didn't even know it was on! I think over the years people have grown tired of virtue signalling slebs preaching at us . I never give any money to big charities, only support small local ones run by volunteers

It's always been a smugfest of egos and virtue signalling, getting more so every year.

I know plenty of conśervatives who would argue there is very little absolute poverty in the UK and a constant focus on food banks is a distraction and a criticism of conservative government.

I can see how people might consider the proliferation of food banks a criticism of the policies of current government who are Tory.

As it happens, I both support our local food bank and think it's a disgrace firstly that we need such things in our modern, rich society and secondly that their use is expanding.

Are there honestly people who claim that people who use a food back are lazy and workshy ?

I didn't even realise Comic Relief had happened! It's not the big event it used to be 30 or so years ago.

Comic relief was mentioned in a few articles in the mail.

As for food banks. I was poor and needed them in a time before we had them. I'm now so grateful for their existence so others don't have to go through what I did. I will never understand why the presence of food banks is seen as a bad thing when it's just the community supporting itself.

@Itsnotfairhuff

I will never understand why the presence of food banks is seen as a bad thing when it's just the community supporting itself.

In a civilised society, it would be my heart's desire that no one needed to rely on the charity of strangers in order to feed themselves and their children

In a society where many , including non-doms (almost all the newspaper proprietors) benefit from low tax regimes alongside employment subsidies (working tax credits), people in full time employment (including many nurses) needing to use food banks is an outrage.

People are robbed of the dignity of a fair working wages in return for their labour. I can't tell you how strongly I feel about this.

Can't stand the event,
It's embarrassing 😳 crunch worthy,

It's about as funny as piles Hemorrhoids,

Oops ment to say Crinch worthy

A civilised society helps those in need regardless of their circumstance and without judgment.

We will never all truly be equal and there will always be those on or below the breadline so a powerful system of support such as food banks is a good thing.

Didn't even know it was comic relief yesterday until someone mentioned it. I'm sure when it first started out many years ago all the money raised went to overseas causes which I think was criticized which is why they do more for UK charities.

Like a pp said you will never eradicate poverty, there will always be poor people and rich people. Also people's definition of poverty is different depending on the era they were born. I was brought up in the 60s/70s so my definition of poverty would be different to someone brought up in the 1990s.

Personally I think food banks (and other charitable groups) are a symptom of a failing welfare state which allows poverty to an extent that people have to turn to charity to eat. The welfare state was set up to allow a minimum standard of living (and healthcare) and for good banks use to be growing we need to look at the benefits system and minimum wage levels.

However I realise this a personal opinion influenced by my politics and you get a very simplified view from something like comic relief.

One thing that jarred with comic relief was the fact that parallels are drawn between providing good for families in the UK and sub Saharan Africa. I do think the two scenarios are different in scale.

Virtue signalling definitely.....we want to know how much the cast of millionaire celebs donate personally if they are persuading the general public to put a hand in their pocket. Also it has been shown that those from poorer backgrounds give disproportionately to charities as they can identify more with particular hardships; a bit entirely fair situation.

I think the clip of Mo Farah and the charities supporting work against modern slavery (very often illegal migrants) wasn't coincidental given recent government policy so CR was wading into political territory. I also think on the foreign front there was little mention of the Earthquake that devastated Syria and southern Turkey....why? Is it possible that ties to Russia by the two countries has influenced charity priorities? Ukrainian refugees were mentioned which Is great but ironic that the entire money raised would possibly get 5 or 6 tanks or a jet on the military support front.

I support a food bank with donations (both cash and food) but I don’t necessarily agree with them politically.

If someone is in need of money, they should be given money rather than a food parcel. Money gives dignity, choice and agency. It is also the most effective way to donate. What would you rather receive?

The DHSS (as it was) used to give welfare loans or emergency payments - what happened to that system?

I also think that a lot of well-to-do people kid themselves that they’re charitable because they give a few tins to the food bank every now and again, whereas a decent cash donation would probably be far more appropriate to their means.

Watching Lenny Henry’s only appearance last night, he started with “35 years ago... “ and went on to describe visiting an impoverished part of East Africa and then to say basically all the problems then are still problems now. While laudable, charity just isn’t working at a structural level, and the £34m raised is a drop in the ocean. Similarly, last night I saw a Kellogg’s advert patting themselves on the back for 25 years supporting breakfast clubs - again, I’d far rather we had an economic structure that allowed families to feed themselves properly.

As a pp said, before food banks became the norm, many poor people just didn't eat, or relied on other types of charities for assistance. Food banks are the modern way of being able to access free food, in an organised manner, and for businesses, because a lot comes from supermarkets for example, and communities to support one another, I don't think that is such a bad thing. Before Fairshare and others, food was dumped, which was disgraceful.

It is also not an UK exclusive problem. The whole of Europe has similar schemes, whether you are in Sweden, Garmany, or Italy, food banks or often Christian organisations pick up the slack for the most needy.

I think how you view food banks reflects your politics in general. It’s either
a. It’s a disgrace we need them in this rich country, the state should provide food
or
b. They are a community run example of big society similar to other local communities events that help others but this one provides food.

I think I am more b. than a. as I like that we have a local food bank, I donate to it and when I retire will offer to help there I think.
I see it as a positive as it’s quite a community hub and social and can help with the general problem of food waste.
I see them a bit like charity shops ( and I don’t think people generally object to them?)

but I appreciate not everyone looks at it that way and that’s ok

And it did mention the Turkey / Syria earthquake last night and will be helping there ( so I don’t think geopolitics impacts their decision making )