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Row over food banks are normal claim

The Trussell Trust runs food banks across Scotland.
The Trussell Trust runs food banks across Scotland.

North-east pro-union campaigners have been criticised for describing the upsurge of food banks in Scotland as “normal”.

The Aberdeenshire branch of the Better Together group sparked outrage online after it claimed the situation was “far from being a sign of failure” for the UK.

It described food banks as a “enriching example of human compassion, faith and social cohesion”.

It said they had been operating in France, Germany and the USA for many years and using the issue as a “simplistic political football” in Scotland insulted people who run and use facilities.

Aboyne Academy head teacher Stewart Whyte, who stood for the Conservatives in the Aberdeen South and North Kincardine seat at the 2011 Holyrood election, was also criticised for making similar remarks in a separate online post.

Aberdeenshire West SNP MSP Dennis Robertson said Better Together Aberdeenshire’s “heartless” comments were “insulting” to the 70,000 people across Scotland who were forced to use facilities last year.

He urged former Chancellor Alistair Darling, leader of the Better Together campaign, to “distance himself” from the comments.

A spokesman for the pro-UK group said the post on social media, which has been deleted, was “totally inappropriate” and an investigation had been launched into why it appeared.

The Better Together Aberdeenshire post, which was shared 316 times, read: “The current SNP strategy is to highlight the existence of food banks in Scotland as a shorthand of the failure of the UK and to hint that they could be ended in an independent Scotland.

“Food banks were invented in the USA in 1967, the first French one was opened in 1984 and the first UK one was opened in 2000 in Salisbury.

“There are at least 918 food banks in Germany.

“Food banks are Scotland becoming a normal European country.

“Many of then are run by churches and they provide a practical way for people to help those less fortunate than themselves.

“Far from being a sign of failure they are an enriching example of human compassion, faith and social cohesion.

“Using them as a simplistic political football insults the thousands of people who contribute, who run and use them.”

But Mr Robertson claimed the comments “uncover the complete lack of ambition that the ‘no’ camp has for Scotland.”

“This depressing position that the ‘no’ camp has taken illustrates just how vital it is that we gain the full powers of independence in order to build a better Scotland,” he added.

“One that protects people from poverty and helps them fulfil their potential in work and life and where food banks are no longer needed.”

The row broke out a day after the Scottish Government announced it was giving food banks in the north and north-east a share of £518,000 to help people struggling to eat and pay their bills.

Community Food Moray, which is based in Elgin, was given £43,518 to enable it to continue operating for another 18 months and the Calman Trust, which operates across the Highlands, £9,872 to develop its services.

The Fersands and Fountain Community Project in Aberdeen was allocated £8,200 and Instant Neighbour, which also operates in the city, £9,872.

The Trussell Trust charity that said the number of people using its food banks in Scotland between April 1, 2013, and March 31 this year had risen to 71,428 – a fourfold increase in 12 months.

The charity said many people who needed help had been plunged into debt because of the so-called bedroom tax, benefits sanctions, and delays to the payment of crisis loans.

Reflecting on the Aberdeenshire group comments, a spokesman for Better Together said: “This is completely inappropriate.

“We have launched an investigation into how this appeared on one of our local group pages.”

North-east Tory MSP Alex Johnstone pointed out that food banks exist partly because of “generosity of spirit and demand”.

“A significant number of people are finding it increasingly hard to make ends meet,” he added.

“The cost of living has gone up and there is much greater demand on household income for energy and transport costs.

“In these difficult times no one is giving away free electricity or free transport but if a food bank exists that is what people will use to stretch their budget.”