“Do you stand in a food queue because you can, or do you stand in a food queue because you have to?”, asked the Minister of Employment and Inclusion in an interview with Vårt Land. She also asked if people who stand in the food queue do so to afford other things. It has caused reactions. The minister has been called both heartless and arrogant. – This does not belong anywhere. It’s an attitude reminiscent of the upper class in France before the French Revolution, says Jostein Mørk, who on Tuesday this week received a free dinner at Lilleborg Church in Oslo. Free dinner from the Food Center in Lilleborg church. Photo: Lilla Sølhusvik In September, the Salvation Army raised the alarm that the food queues are getting longer and longer. In Wednesday’s political quarter, Brenna’s play was the theme: – It is a very clear ambition that no one in Norway should have to stand in food queues. – So why do you distinguish between those who can and those who have to stand in the food queue? – I don’t distinguish between them. But I think it is relevant when we discuss what measures we should consider to ensure that fewer people need to stand in food queues. – Isn’t what you said right? Tonje Brenna has been called both heartless and arrogant after what happened in Vårt Land. Photo: William Jobling / news – This is exactly what I believe our welfare state should look after each and every one of us. I do not say this to distinguish between worthy and unworthy needy. – No one stands in the food queue because it’s fun. Raudt’s Mímir Kristjánsson is one of several who react to Brenna’s behavior in the Political Quarter as well. – She has made a clear distinction between those who stand in the food queue because they have to, and those who stand in the food queue because they can: – No one stands in the food queue because they want to. It is not a leisure activity. Someone is there to save NOK 200 to buy Christmas presents or to pay a dental bill. These people are also poor, says Kristjánsson. Tonje Brenna refers to Fafo’s report which states that those standing in the food queue experience “varying degrees of food safety”. Kristjánsson agrees with Brenna that this is relevant to know, but still reacts to what happened. Lilleborg church serves a free dinner every Tuesday. Photo: Lilla Sølhusvik – Tonje Brenna is toughing it out at the expense of poor people, they suspect social security and people in food queues, says Kristjánsson. – Tonje Brenna, are you bragging at the expense of the poor?, the host asks the minister. – With all due respect, this is just nonsense. It was a comment on the Fafo survey, and I think it is relevant to know because we want to help them. My clear ambition is that fewer people should stand in food queues, answers Brenna and continues: – I don’t think it is useful to caricature this by saying that it is a leisure activity. I have never said that, and I will never say that. A woman whom news spoke to in Lilleborg church said that she is on social security and cannot afford it. She takes advantage of food offers to be able to afford other things. – I try to save, and be careful with what I use. I have to get a new kitchen fan soon and the stove starts singing on the last verse. Mímir Kristjánsson says that Tonje Brenna is toughing it out. Photo: Øystein Otterdal / news It is not necessary to distinguish between them In Fafo’s report it is stated that some of those who take advantage of food offers cannot afford to eat, some cannot afford a “nutritionally sound diet”, and some must save into the food budget to save for other things. – What kind of separation do you think is necessary? – I don’t think we should differentiate between those who use food offers. The goal must be to ensure that no one has to stand in a food queue in Norway, and then we must do more to get people into work, and more to target political measures precisely for that group, says Brenna. The Labor Party has said no to an extra thousand Swedish kroner for welfare recipients before Christmas. The Labor Party agreed to that last year. – Since Christmas last year, the guiding rates have increased by 10 per cent, i.e. more than a thousand Swedish kroner.
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Tonje Brenna says that those standing in the food queue have different needs – Raudt reacts – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
