Thérèse Coffey
© Wiktor Szymanowicz/Anadolu Agency via Getty ImagesThe Environment Secretary was replying to concerns about food banks in York running out of stock
People struggling to afford their grocery bills due to record levels of inflation should consider working longer hours, the Environment Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, has said.

Ms Coffey drew outcries from opposition MPs when she also suggested people should "get upskilled" so they can increase their salaries to cover the increased cost of food.

The Labour MP Rachael Maskell could be heard saying "that's appalling" as Ms Coffey replied to her concerns about food banks in York running out of stock.

Ms Coffey did note that inflation was "really tough at the moment" and drew attention to support schemes available to those most in need.

She insisted that UK households spent among the lowest proportion of their incomes on food in Europe, and she added: "Of course we do know that one of the best ways to boost their incomes is not only to get into work if they're not in work already, but potentially to work some more hours, to get upskilled, to get a higher income, but of course the local welfare grant that was given some time ago now by central Government to local councils is there for them to use as well."


Comment: It's true that the majority of British people don't view food in the same way as those on the continent, but the UK also has some of the highest housing and transport costs in Europe.


The response was pounced on by Labour, which claimed the Environment Secretary was no longer fit to do her job.

Speaking to i, shadow Environment Secretary, Jim McMahon, said: "We're seeing people at the supermarket till telling cashiers to stop when they hit £20. I've seen people counting out every penny to pay for their food bill. There are increasing numbers of food banks, and Thérèse Coffey is saying people should just work harder. She is responsible for our food security and she is overseeing a food shortage, it's a dereliction of duty."

He added: "If Rishi Sunak had any strength, Thérèse Coffey would be on notice by now. She is the water chief that is overseeing sewage being dumped in our rivers, she is the food chief that is overseeing a food shortage and she is responsible for our fish and has overseen a mass die-off of sea life in the North East."

Ms Coffey also told the Commons that people could be eating turnips under a seasonal food model in response to questions over the shortages of lettuce and tomatoes in supermarkets.

MPs warned the shortages of salad items were a national emergency, but Ms Coffey responded: "A lot of people would be eating turnips right now rather than thinking necessarily about aspects of lettuce and tomatoes and similar, but I'm conscious that consumers want a year-round choice and that is what our supermarkets, food producers and growers around the world try to satisfy."

Sources close to Ms Coffey insisted she was not suggesting people work more hours to pay for more expensive food, but that the Government would support people if they chose to work additional hours to boost their income.

It is not the first time Ms Coffey has courted controversy on the issue of food poverty. During her time as work and pensions secretary in 2020, the Cabinet minister was criticised for making "flippant" remarks when the Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford was calling for free school meals to be extended during the pandemic.

At the height of his campaign, Mr Rashford addressed MPs tweeting: "When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown."

In response, Ms Coffey had replied: "Water cannot be disconnected though."


Comment: Rashford was of course referring to hot water, which indeed isn't available if one can't afford to pay the electricity bill because lockdowns have bankrupted them or forced them out of work.


Her comments were immediately criticised by Mr Rashford himself and opposition parties.