Lee Anderson, Ashfield MP insists Jack Monroe has made a fortune on the backs of the poor.

[newnamethanks]

AIBU to hope for a libel trial as entertaining as Vardy v Rooney and an outcome that rivals the Katy Hopkins debacle?

[Bluevelvetsofa]

What #NellWilsonsWhiteHair said.

[Georgeskitchen]

The type of person who makes unpleasant comments about the death of a disabled child should probably crawl back into the hole she, sorry, THEY came out of

[Clymene]

And I don't think she'll sue him because she'd have to open up about her financial situation if it went to court.

[Tigofigo]

@Whenthegoatcomesin

She would have got a bloody healthy advance on the book whether it sold well or not.

How much though - really? £15k? £20k? Even £50K - not exactly a fortune

[DiamondBright]

Lee Anderson is a generally very unpleasant man, who campaigns as a local man who worked at the pit (not down the pit I gather), he was thrown out of the Labour Party having committed an offence and being convicted and joined the Tory party. He got one of his friends to pretend to be a stranger at the last election so he could be filmed knocking on this man's door canvassing and getting his support. He'll turn up to the opening of an envelope if he thinks it's a good photo opportunity.

Unfortunately he appeals to enough local voters with his Brexit views and right wing racist opinions.

[bellac11]

@AllotmentTime

Why can she say it and he can’t…

Because she is drawing on personal experience of poverty to say “it’s shit, here are strategies that may help you”

Whereas he is looking down from a place of spectacular privilege to say “you’re doing it wrong and your poverty is your own fault”.

How people can’t see the difference between those two positions is astonishing to me.

The outcome is the same, how do you think HV and schools and nurseries and SWs and parenting workers work with people to support them with budgeting and cooking skills?

it makes no difference at all to support people to make changes that can benefit them

Thats a whole other argument as to how the country has got itself in the state it has that food banks are virtually normal now.

[Mumoblue]

@Smileyaxolotl1

Sure, when you’re surviving on very little and sharing tips on how to do that- that’s okay!
When you’re part of the government responsible for soaring poverty through shoddy management (and also claiming expenses!) saying “people just don’t know how to budget and cook” is not okay.

Hope that helps.

[bellac11]

@Georgeskitchen

The type of person who makes unpleasant comments about the death of a disabled child should probably crawl back into the hole she, sorry, THEY came out of

What does this mean?

[Tigofigo]

@AllotmentTime

Why can she say it and he can’t…

Because she is drawing on personal experience of poverty to say “it’s shit, here are strategies that may help you”

Whereas he is looking down from a place of spectacular privilege to say “you’re doing it wrong and your poverty is your own fault”.

How people can’t see the difference between those two positions is astonishing to me.

Well said - I'm no fan of Jack but at least she is offering practical help with shopping lists and recipes, showing understanding and empathy that it's hard, campaigning for change which tackles the underlying reasons.

[hattie43]

@newnamethanks

He may have "an awful lot of support" for his mistaken and jaundiced opinion. That doesn't make it true. I would have thought you might know that.

And why must he be wrong ? Because you say so , really ?
Only yesterday in the paper they interviewed two ladies who had attended the course and both said it was invaluable. One said she used to wander around the shops not knowing what to buy and now she goes armed with an ingredients list and makes home cooked food .
How can that possibly be wrong , oh yes because the left wing facials tell us , OMG

[Tigofigo]

@Tontostitis

Is it she or he or they or has Jack completely jumped off that unprofitable bandwagon?

As far as I remember Jack said in interview she is OK with both they and she.

[Luculentus]

@hattie43

This .

He has an awful lot of support for what he's said .

Having support isn't the same as being able to prove what he has said, which is what will happen if he is sued.

[hattie43]

@AllotmentTime

Why can she say it and he can’t…

Because she is drawing on personal experience of poverty to say “it’s shit, here are strategies that may help you”

Whereas he is looking down from a place of spectacular privilege to say “you’re doing it wrong and your poverty is your own fault”.

How people can’t see the difference between those two positions is astonishing to me.

Wrong , he came from poverty in childhood and has explained how his nan and mum has to provide meals on nothing .

[Luculentus]

@Dauncets

Poor people can't afford solicitors' fees for defamation cases.

That's what the no-win no-fee is there for.

[LoosyGoosie]

I'm no fan of Lee Anderson, but he is my MP.

Until about four year ago he was labour. He was also a coal miner straight out of school for ten years and he grew up in an very deprived area. I don't know what his family life was like but there are no 'good bits' of that area.

There is a special blue light in the toilets in Asda so you can't see your veins and shoot up.

I work in a school right where he grew up. Our children have to brush their teeth at school as they don't do it at home. It is not an area of wealth.

[dottiedodah]

Allotments agreed .she has lived on the breadline herself. Patronising Mps who have never cooked a meal cheap or otherwise have no clue . She will likely win and give some money to shelter I think

[stuntbubbles]

@Tigofigo

How much though - really? £15k? £20k? Even £50K - not exactly a fortune

Not forgetting advances are split into 3 – on signing, on delivery, on publication – which can often be in three separate years, and the agent takes 15% (20% for foreign rights). So £50k is actually £16,666 - 15% = £14,166 pa.

[Sapphirensteel]

On the buying from value ranges and obtaining food from food banks , my take is not what you say but how you say it.

You can have food from this food bank but you MUST sign up for budgeting and cookery classes as obviously you don’t know how to do either
Versus
You are entitled to have food from this food bank and we also provide classes in budgeting and cooking economical meals. You are welcome to sign up for either or both if you wish.

You should buy food from Value ranges and cook a meal for 30p p.p.
Versus
Value ranges are a good way to save money as the food is generally as nutritious as more expensive ranges.

Of course Jack Monroe has made money from her books —- it’s called working or making a living. I don’t see why she should be slagged off for it.

[Scianel]

Wrong , he came from poverty in childhood and has explained how his nan and mum has to provide meals on nothing

Yes and she didn't, at all.

[kateandme]

I do hate the way she's gone after a few people.wrongly I might add.
And she spews woe is me shit on Twitter.gets her army rabbbled and then deletes.but left with army bullying anyone who opposes her.
She's very arrogant and ignorant unless she thinks or believes or said it.
Her shit show on Jamie Oliver last year was f awful.

[Scianel]

Of course Jack Monroe has made money from her books —- it’s called working or making a living. I don’t see why she should be slagged off for it

She should probably pay the required tax on it though? And stop saying how poor she still is?

[Snoozer11]

I too belive there is a huge amount of dishonesty in Monroe's backstory.

Allegedly she used to have a well-paid job in the fire service that would have set her up for life.

I think she has done a lot of good, though.

I also think that many people are in dire straits because they either can't or won't budget, rely too much on luxuries and can't cook. Certainly not all, and we are all feeling the pinch - but if education helps even just a handful of food bank users then I am all for it.

With the reliance on ready meals and processed junk and very few learning to cook standard, healthy meals from scratch, we have seen an overwhelmingly negative impact on society and I think this is responsible for many of the issues we face today with fitness, health, obesity, poverty and the NHS.

[hattie43]

@Scianel

Wrong , he came from poverty in childhood and has explained how his nan and mum has to provide meals on nothing

Yes and she didn't, at all.

I've never said she didn't but it appears only her poverty is acceptable.

[Scianel]

@hattie43 sorry I was agreeing with you there, not being sarky. She comes from a pretty comfortable background.