A CONSERVATIVE parliamentary candidate faced shouts of “shame” at a hustings for implying that those who use foodbanks are freeloaders.

Brendan Clarke-Smith told an election hustings that the reason foodbanks have grown under a Tory government is because “they give stuff away.”

With all these hustings there’s always yet ANOTHER late entry for ‘most appalling Tory candidate in the universe’. Today’s is from Bassetlaw.

Brendan Clarke-Smith looks nice. #GE2019 #GetBorisGone #punchgate #VoteTacticallyNotTribally #TuesdayThoughtspic.twitter.com/x4KH0bG9iE

— Brendan May (@bmay) December 10, 2019

He said: “If you are going to say to somebody that you are going to refer them on [to a foodbank], or you are going to give them something, obviously you are going to have an increase in that.

“It always, always is the way.”

Mr Clarke-Smith, who is contesting the Labour safe seat of Bassetlaw, was asked by an audience member to explain the rise in foodbank usage, despite the rise in employment.

He replied: “I’m afraid what we should not be giving is the impression that, you know, this is so widespread, that we are some sort of country in crisis, and in absolute poverty. This is simply not true.”

It is estimated that between 27.7 per cent of Bassetlaw’s children live in poverty.

His comments led to heckling and boos, with an audience member shouting: “We’re all beggars are we? We’re all out for a freebie are we?”

The Trussell Trust estimates that 1.6 million parcels were given out at foodbanks last year, and says that complications created by the universal credit benefit system were responsible for nearly half of all foodbank referrals.

Mr Clarke-Smith’s comments come as Broxstowe Tory candidate Darren Henry told a hustings that foodbank users could take out payday loans if they were struggling and suggested that foodbank users should be taught how to budget properly.

Labour Party chairman Ian Lavery said: “It is a scandal that so many families are going hungry in one of the world’s richest countries.

“Food insecurity has soared in Britain since 2010, with many foodbank users in employment. No-one chooses to be unable to afford food. Yet Tory candidates do not care that their austerity has pushed so many people into poverty.

“In this election there is a clear choice: five more years of poverty and inequality under the Tories, or vote for Labour to end foodbank Britain and bring about real change.”