MP RESPONDS TO FOODBANK APP CLAIMS

NEW MP for Penistone and Stocksbridge, Miriam Cates, has spoken out against misleading claims she was making a profit from foodbanks.

Miriam Cates MP met with Chancellor Sajid Javid in Downing Street to discuss plans to invest in infrastructure in the north

Earlier this month, people in Penistone and Stocksbridge elected Mrs Cates as their first-ever Conservative MP. Now, the new MP wants to answer the false suggestions made against her and her husband, Dave.

“My husband and I own a small business that we set up from scratch,” the MP said. “Six years ago, after seeing the challenges of our local S6 Foodbank, we developed an app to show supporters which food items are running low and remind people to donate. Creating the app was costly but we wanted to help.”

The S6 Foodbank saw an increase in donations as a result of the app so the Cates decided to offer it to other foodbanks.

“This app would have cost thousands of pounds to develop commercially and as a small business, we could not afford to continue to update and support it for free,” Mrs Cates said.

“So we had to make a small charge to cover the set up and training costs each time a new foodbank signed up.

“This app has cost us far more to develop than we will ever recoup. To say we have ‘profited from foodbanks’ is not just misleading – it’s a lie. We created the app to help people in crisis but sadly those who spread these stories seem to have no interest in the truth.

“Like all of us, I desperately want food poverty to end. That’s why I’ll be supporting increases in the National Living Wage and doing everything I can to reduce living costs and improve access to secure jobs locally.”

Chris Hardy, S6 Foodbank manager said: “The Foodbank app has been an invaluable resource for us at the S6 Foodbank and others that I know. Miriam and Dave Cates have been incredibly generous and supportive of our work.”

Mrs Cates says she has also received widespread support since her election.

“I’ve always tried to help people in my community as a volunteer, a Parish Councillor and now an MP,” she said.

“Already in my first week in Parliament I’ve voted to get Brexit done on January 31st, fulfilling my first promise to those who voted for me. I’m excited about getting on with my other commitments, to improve our infrastructure and bring more high-skilled jobs to our area. My constituents have a right to know that I’m someone they can trust to represent them.”