AMDG
Two important things happened yesterday in Manchester which offer a contrast that maybe worth reflecting on. The Prime Minister gave his speech about his vision of ‘ a land of opportunity for all’, whilst just down the road (to be precise Oxford Rd) we are opening the first student-run foodbank in the country (link to BBC website). All around Manchester you can see the Conservative Party banners – with their conference slogan proclaiming ‘For Hard Working People‘. The implication is that we are not the party of scroungers, lazy welfare dependent – ‘feckless’ poor. The embarrassing truth is that according to foodbank usage statistics (collated by the excellent Trussell Trust), the crisis food provision is increasingly being used by the ‘working poor‘. The sad fact is that many hard working people seem to be getting poorer, especially those not protected by proper contracts.
The Conservative Party seem to have a schizophrenic relationship with Foodbanks, on one hand they are held up as being a great example of Cameron’s ‘Big Society’ on the other hand there is considerable embarrassment about the incredible growth of the foodbank network. This is embarrassing for the government as it makes visible what was hidden before, food poverty. Food Poverty is something that teachers have noticed as alarming levels of students arrive at school with empty stomachs, here in Central Manchester we have the highest indices of child poverty in the country. It was sad to see a meeting between MP’s and foodbank managers was cancelled this week here in Manchester for lack of interest by the Conservative MP’s. We also had the same problem attracting Catholic Mp’s to speak to the students – none were interested in coming. Last year at the Labour conference a few Mp’s came – including the impressive Jim Murphy, who still came and talked to the students even though he had lost his voice.
Even if the government wasn’t interested – the media were – this report went out nationwide on ITV yesterday
Jesuit Priest from Liverpool, UK. Enthusiastic about too many things, Wilderness Seeker, Amateur Astronomer, LFC supporter and a bit lob-sided as you can see in my photo .
Schola Affectus 
It is a sorry, sorry state of affairs when our government is preparing to penalise the poorest in society. I have always felt that, being part of this ‘Big Society’, we should care for those less able for whatever reason to fend for themselves. The problems will only get worse as these new proposals seem to include everyone, those with physical and mental health conditions included. I am sure the student’s foodbank will do really well as they will have plenty of referals as the situation for the marginalised in our society will not get any better soon.
Please wish them all the best from me Father Tim.