London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jun 01, 2025

Tory MP tells firefighters using food banks 'learn how to budget'

Tory MP tells firefighters using food banks 'learn how to budget'

A Conservative MP has dismissed claims that many firefighters earning £32,244 are forced to use food banks.
Brendan Clarke-Smith has suggested that if anyone is struggling on this salary, they need to ‘learn to budget and prioritise’.

But his comments have sparked controversy online, with people pointing to the crushing cost of energy, food, fuel and rent.

Some named him ‘completely divorced from reality’, saying a single parent living on that budget ‘wouldn’t even be able to buy toiletries’.

Others noted that MPs earn a basic annual salary of £84,144 and are able to make expenses claims for accommodation, office costs and travel.

The total bill for MPs’ allowances rose to £138.6 million in 2021-2022.

Mr Clarke-Smith’s Twitter spat came after the Fire Brigades Union tweeted saying Freedom of Information requests had revealed Chief Fire Officers are, on average, on £148,000 – with the highest salary being £206,000.

Meanwhile, many ordinary firefighters who earn a salary up to six times lower – £32,244 – are using food banks, they said.

 MP Brendan Clarke-Smith suggested people ‘learn to budget and prioritise’

Firefighters and control staff have rejected a 5% offer, as inflation soars to 10.7%.

In response, Mr Clarke-Smith, who represents Bassetlaw in Nottinghamshire, tweeted: ‘I respect the profession, but £32,244 and using a food bank?

‘Never heard such a ridiculous thing in my life. I earned a lot less than that for most of my teaching career and so do many of my constituents. 

‘If true, which is unlikely, I suggest learning how to budget and prioritise.’

He added: ‘There will always be people with individual situations who occasionally need help, regardless of income, but to use it as a go-to example every time is getting a little absurd now.’

He was backed by Tory peer Lord Moylan, who wrote: ‘Bravely said.’

‘Anybody on £32 grand a year and requires food bank need help with finances,’ one Twitter user added.

But others told him to ‘get in the real world’, naming his statement ‘shameful’.

One person said: ‘So say they are the sole source of income for a family of 4. You really think £32k after tax is going to cover the cost of living when energy costs have doubled and the cost of food has risen by over 14 per cent in the last 12 months? You’re completely divorced from reality.’




 
Someone looks through food items inside a food bank in Hackney, north-east London


Another wrote: ‘Net monthly: 2,100. Single parent, living in two bed house=1,000. Bills= 400. Food=400. Transport= 200. Clothes=100.

‘My budget is gone and I haven’t even bought toiletries Brendan. Can you please teach me how to budget better.’

When people queried when Mr Clarke-Smith was last in the teaching world, he replied saying 2019.

One person replied: ‘And then there was inflation you clown.’

Meanwhile, Angela Hough replied to Lord Moylan, writing: ‘There is nothing brave about rich people telling those who earn less to budget better during a cost of living crisis.’

It comes after the Trussell Trust network revealed their food banks distributed over 2.1 million food parcels in 2021-22 for the first time outside of the first year of the pandemic.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
Russia's Fossil Fuel Revenues Approach €900 Billion Since Ukraine Invasion
U.S. Justice Department Reduces American Bar Association's Role in Judicial Nominations
U.S. Department of Energy Unveils 'Doudna' Supercomputer to Advance AI Research
U.S. SEC Dismisses Lawsuit Against Binance Amid Regulatory Shift
Alcohol Industry Faces Increased Scrutiny Amid Health Concerns
Italy Faces Population Decline Amid Youth Emigration
U.S. Goods Imports Plunge Nearly 20% Amid Tariff Disruptions
OpenAI Faces Competition from Cheaper AI Rivals
Foreign Tax Provision in U.S. Budget Bill Alarms Investors
Trump Accuses China of Violating Trade Agreement
Gerry Adams Wins Libel Case Against BBC
Russia Accuses Serbia of Supplying Arms to Ukraine
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
Chinese Woman Dies After Being Forced to Visit Bank Despite Critical Illness
President Trump Grants Full Pardons to Reality TV Stars Todd and Julie Chrisley
Texas Enacts App Store Accountability Act Mandating Age Verification
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Vatican Calls for Sustainable Tourism in 2025 Message
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Trump Threatens 25% Tariff on iPhones Amid Dispute with Apple CEO
Putin's Helicopter Reportedly Targeted by Ukrainian Drones
Liverpool Car Ramming Incident Leaves Multiple Injured
Australia Faces Immigration Debate Following Labor Party Victory
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
Macron Dismisses Viral Video of Wife's Gesture as Playful Banter
Cleveland Clinic Study Questions Effectiveness of Recent Flu Vaccine
Netanyahu Accuses Starmer of Siding with Hamas
Junior Doctors Threaten Strike Over 4% Pay Offer
×