As the general election campaign continues and temperatures drop, conversation has turned to children who are living in poverty.
Last night Channel 4’s flagship investigative programme Dispatches aired Growing Up Poor: Britain’s Breadline Kids. The documentary explored the lives of some of the 4 million children who are living in poverty in the UK. This comes as think tank Resolution Foundation warned that poverty could rise to a 60-year high under the Conservatives if Boris Johnson wins a majority on 12 December.
In advance of the full documentary being aired on Channel 4, clips were released on social media.
Cameron and his sisters rely on a food bank.
"We try not to eat a lot in one day, even though most of us are really hungry." Almost 1 in 3 children in the UK a… https://t.co/AR5EcUv5w2— Channel 4 Dispatches (@Channel 4 Dispatches) 1575158400
And 8 year-old Courtney’s family survive on just five pounds a day.
8 year old Courtney and her family live off £5 a day - they rely on a food bank to eat and wear coats to bed when t… https://t.co/XBopZ1hqar— Channel 4 Dispatches (@Channel 4 Dispatches) 1575136800
The overwhelming response on social media was one of heartbreak and anger at the desperate situation these children have been forced to endure.
But, sadly, there’s always going to be a minority who aren’t as supportive.
In response to watching a video about a family surviving on just £5 a day and sleeping fully clothed because they can't afford heating, several Twitter users made some “budgeting suggestions” for the family.
Bizarrely, these included getting a wood burning stove to save money heating bills, or even an Aga cooker.
Yes, an Aga as in… One of these, which retails at £11,500.
On Twitter, people weren’t impressed by this shocking lack of compassion for children in extreme poverty.
@femmenistfatale If they're so hard up for cash they should simply sell their holiday villa— Glen (@Glen) 1575249050
@femmenistfatale WTAF?!? Is that to be followed by "food banks are so uplifting"? Aaagh! https://t.co/CQ94dOMD9H— Sharon Lee 🏳️🌈💙 (@Sharon Lee 🏳️🌈💙) 1575241564
@femmenistfatale Absolutely, get a £5000 oven that you have to leave on all the time— keewa (@keewa) 1575234585
More: Boris Johnson’s Tory party threatening Channel 4’s broadcast licence is their most Trump move yet