Tory MP Lee Anderson accused of ‘bullying and harassment’ for revealing staff member’s salary in food bank row

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Lee Anderson MP posted a picture of Katy Colthup, a parliamentary researcher, writing that she does not need to use a food bank despite earning less than £30,000 a year.

Conservative MP Lee Anderson has been accused of “bullying and harassment” after sharing his staff members salary details on Twitter in a row over food bank use.

Lee Anderson posted a picture of Katy Colthup, a parliamentary researcher, writing that she does not need to use a food bank despite earning less than £30,000 a year.

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The tweet came after Tory ex-minister Simon Clarke was rebuked by Michael Gove and opposition MPs after he said nurses earning £35,000 who use food banks should “budget better”.

Lee Anderson, Ashfield MP. Picture by London Portrait Photoqrapher-DAV.Lee Anderson, Ashfield MP. Picture by London Portrait Photoqrapher-DAV.
Lee Anderson, Ashfield MP. Picture by London Portrait Photoqrapher-DAV.

In his tweet, Mr Anderson shared how much Ms Colthup budgets each month.

He wrote: “Katy works for me. She is single & earns less than 30k, rents a room for £775pcm in Central London, has student debt, £120 a month on travelling to work saves money every month, goes on foreign holidays & does not need to use a foodbank.

“Katy makes my point really well.”

However the tweet was met with serious backlash with many people accusing the Ashfield MP of “abusing” his position of power.

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Labour MP Dawn Butler said the tweet was “a form bullying and harassment”, urging him to delete it.

The Brent Central MP said she had lodged a complaint in Parliament.

She wrote: “This is a form of bullying and harassment.

“Whether Katy agreed to this, it is unacceptable to use a young female employee this way. Please delete.

“I have also complained to the independent complaints in Parliament which states.

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“Bullying =  behaviour involving an abuse or misuse of power that can make a person feel vulnerable, upset, undermined, humiliated, denigrated or threatened.”

Lib Dem MP Jamie Stone wrote: “I have never, and would never, use my staff as a political football.

“This is in seriously bad taste and is an awful way to admit that you don’t pay your staff enough.”

Mr Clarke sparked the row after he said £35,000 is the median nurse’s salary, and added: “I don’t believe people on an average salary of £35,000 a year need to be using food banks.”

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RCN general secretary Pat Cullen said: “To criticise anybody using a food bank is disgusting, heartless and dangerously out of touch.

“I have toured the length and breadth of this country and met nursing staff from every corner of the nation – and their fear and fright about not being able to meet their bills is palpable.”

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