Outrage as Tory MP says nurses using foodbanks should 'budget better'

2023-01-18

Tory MP Simon Clarke is blasted for being ‘out of touch’ for saying nurses forced to use food banks should ‘budget better’ as thousands go out on strike

Mr Clarke is branded ‘heartless’ over comments about nurses using food banks
The Conservative MP claimed cash-strapped workers should ‘budget better’
He sparked outrage from the general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing
The comments come as thousands of nurses go on strike in a bitter row over pay

A ‘heartless’ Tory MP has sparked outrage after telling cash-strapped nurses using foodbanks to ‘budget better’ in comments that have been branded ‘disgusting’.

Former levelling up secretary Simon Clarke ignited fury after making the remark on a radio program as thousands of nurses went out on strike in a bitter row over pay.

The Oxford-educated MP Middlesbrough South and east Cleveland said nurses earning £35,000 should not be using foodbanks and should instead ‘take responsibility’ for their own finances.

But the inflammatory comments have triggered a furious backlash from MPs and health chiefs, with Pat Cullen, general secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), saying: ‘To criticise anybody using a foodbank is disgusting, heartless and dangerously out of touch.’

Thousand of nurses are today on strike in a bitter row over pay and working conditions – with some claiming they cannot afford to put food on the table

But Tory MP Simon Clarke (pictured) has been blasted after claiming nurses forced to use foodbanks should ‘budget better’

Speaking on BBC Radio Tees, former Chief Secretary to the Treasury Mr Clarke – who earns £84,000 as an MP – said: ‘If you are using foodbanks and your average salary is £35,000 a year then something is wrong with your budgeting because £35,000 is not a salary on which you want to be relying on foodbanks.

‘I think we just need to be clear on this.

‘This debate has got out of hand, the average nurse’s salary is £35,000 and senior nurses earn up to about £47,000.’

His comment echoed similar remarks made by Tory colleague Brendan Clarke-Smith about firefighters last month,

The Bassetlaw MP triggered an angry backlash after posting on Twitter: ‘I respect the profession, but £32,244 and using a food bank? Never heard such a ridiculous thing in my life.’

Members of the RCN at the Florence Nightingale statue on the picket line near the Florence Nightingale Community Hospital in Derby

Nurses at 55 NHS trusts in England are walking out today and tomorrow in pursuit of an inflation-busting pay rise. Pictured, nurses on the picket line today outside the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough

Speaking of the latest comments by Mr Clarke today, Ms Cullen said the fear of nursing staff not being able to meet their bills was ‘palpable’, with ‘sky-high inflation’ leaving many ‘living on a financial knife-edge’.

‘When nurses are having to pay hundreds of pounds a month just to get to work, can’t afford to put food on the table, and are forced to cut back on shifts because they can’t afford ever-increasing childcare costs, something is seriously wrong,’ Ms Cullen told the Mirror.

Also blasting Mr Clarke was Labour MP Andy Macdonald, who said the Tory party was ‘totally detached from reality’.

While Labour caseworker Sarah Freeney tweeted: ‘Simon Clarke seriously has not got a clue.

‘Some family gas/electric bills in excess of £460 per month. Rent/mortgage plus utility bills are often taking up the majority of income.

‘He needs to learn about essential outgoings.’

One in four hospitals will be affected by the industrial action organised by the RCN , after a similar walk-out just before Christmas.

Only emergency care will be provided between 8am and 8pm for the next 48 hours, but the RCN claim A&E and intensive care will be unaffected, with chemotherapy, kidney dialysis and intensive care also provided.

Members of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) on the picket line outside the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital on January 18

An 18.4 per cent pay rise — based on the current rate of inflation — would see the average nurses’ salary go from £37,000 to £43,800 (red bar). Meeting halfway would see it increase to £40,400 (purple bar). The Government has insisted its offer of around 4 per cent, or £1,400, is all it can afford at present (blue bar)

The Royal College of Nursing will hold its strikes over pay on January 18 and 19, as well as February 6 and 7. It joins Unison in five ambulance services on January 23. The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy will also stage strike action on January 26 and February 9

RCN chief executive Ms Cullen said today: ‘People aren’t dying because nurses are striking. Today’s record number of unfilled nurse jobs cannot be left to get worse. Pay nursing staff fairly to turn this around and give the public the care they deserve.’

At Dorset County Hospital bosses have asked families to support patients including helping them at mealtimes so staff can concentrate on clinical work. One NHS Trust was yesterday offering nurses £40 an hour to cover for strikes.

And further strike woe will be announced later today, with ambulance unions GMB and Unite set to reveal more strike dates for the coming months.

The RCN has called for nurses to receive a pay rise five per cent above inflation. Although, it has told the Government that it would meet halfway.

Ministers have so far refused to negotiate on pay, with the Health Secretary Steve Barclay warning any extra cash given to nurses would have to be taken from other parts of the NHS budget.

In Parliament, Rishi Sunak launched a fresh attack on Sir Keir Starmer over Labour’s refusal to back new anti-strike laws today as the PM was accused of overseeing ‘lethal chaos’ in the health service.

The two party leaders clashed in a Prime Minister’s Questions session dominated by a row over ambulance waiting times and industrial action by medics.

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