Outrageous: Iain Duncan Smith – the man considered more responsible for sending people to food banks than any other – contributes a small bag of sugar, the cost of which he’ll probably claim back on expenses, to his local foodbank in a photo opportunity intended to pretend that he cares about the poor people he sent there.

See the image above these words? You’re going to see it a few times in this article because it has absolutely infuriated members of the public.

It shows Iain Duncan Smith – who, as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, enacted Conservative government policies that sent millions of people to food banks – handing over a small bag of sugar at his local food bank.

This is a man who thought £39 was a reasonable price for breakfast (as long as the public was paying for it via his expenses bill) – but said he could live on £53 a week in benefits.

The stunt has earned him nothing but vilification:

https://twitter.com/BootstrapCook/status/1070574864405270528

It was part of a series of photo opportunities arranged for Conservative MPs across the UK. Smart commentators think they were arranged to win public approval in advance of a possible snap general election campaign in the near future.

… Smarter commentators fabricated their own images to counter the public relations blitz, under the tagline “Tory trophy hunters”.

So here’s Claire Perry, who allegedly bullies people in Westminster and definitely accuses men of misogyny to win arguments:

https://twitter.com/UKDemockery/status/1070624627989217280

Here’s their version of the PR photo featuring Dominic Raab, who couldn’t find Dover, let alone the business end of a rifle:

https://twitter.com/UKDemockery/status/1069359748699602944

And here’s Ms Perry again, alongside Esther McVey:

If you’re wondering why it’s such a big deal that Conservative MPs have been posing in food banks to boost their image, here’s Jeremy Corbyn:

https://twitter.com/ToryFibs/status/1070299716481634304

The use of food banks in publicity stunts by Tory MPs is not acceptable on any level. By Iain Duncan Smith, it descends to obscenity.

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