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A top Tory sparked anger today by saying most food bank users are not "languishing in poverty".

Instead Dominic Raab blamed "cash flow problems" for the huge rise of people using the Trussell Trust - which gave out nearly 1.2million emergency food parcels last year.

But he didn't mention a key reason for the rise - benefit delays and sanctions.

The former justice minister told an election debate hosted by the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire: "I've studied the Trussell Trust data.

"What they tend to find is the typical user of a foodbank is not someone that's languishing in poverty, it's someone who has a cash flow problem episodically."

Mr Raab faced a backlash from audience members, the Lib Dems and his co-panellists, SNP culture spokesman John Nicolson and shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry.

(Image: BBC)

He stood his ground saying: "No, it's true! That is what the Trussell Trust have to say."

But Trussell Trust data shows many do visit a food bank due to low incomes - and for others, there is an overwhelming reason for people's "cash flow problems".

The charity said the primary reason for 28% of referrals in 2015-16 was "benefit delays", followed by 23% for "low income", 13% for "benefit changes" and 7% for debt.

Overall, 42% of referrals in 2015/16 said they needed a foodbank due to an issue with their benefits.

(Image: Trinity Mirror)

A spokesman for the charity told the Mirror: "Trussell Trust data shows that the main reasons for a foodbank referral are delays and changes to benefit payments and low income issues that include people who are struggling with low pay or insecure forms of employment.

"It is our experience that people living in poverty are more likely to experience a sudden short term crisis where they are referred for emergency food, whilst the underlying causes are addressed.

"For these people Foodbanks are a lifeline and The Trussell Trust is extremely grateful to the public for the generous donations of food, toiletries and finance that help Foodbanks keep their doors open."

Foodbank crisis in numbers Trussell Trust

Mr Raab admitted a lot of people were "feeling the pinch" and said the Tories had taken 4million low paid people out of income tax and introduced a new minimum wage for the over-25s.

He said "difficult decisions" must be made to fix the economy.

But an audience member took him to task, saying: "People are using food banks because their salaries haven't increased.

"We're the sixth richest country in the world. It's an absolute disgrace that anybody has to go to a food bank. And you sit there trying to convince us why people have to use them? It's a disgrace."

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said Mr Raab's "stupid and deeply offensive comments... shame him and his party."

Comparing him to callous fictional Tory Alan B'Stard from TV comedy The New Statesman, Mr Farron said: "People are hurting and the Tories, with comments like this, show they just don't care.

"The real reasons people have to go to food banks are low incomes, benefit delays, debt and homelessness."

Labour candidate David Lammy said Dominic Raab's comments were "horrendously ignorant and out of touch."

He tweeted: "I'll take you to a food bank if you want Dominic Raab. Let's kick the born to rule lot out on June 8."

The SNP 's John Nicolson said the Trussell Trust would be "outraged" by Mr Raab's excuse.

Labour election co-ordinator Andrew Gwynne accused Mr Raab of "blaming" penniless food bank users.

He said: "It’s no surprise when politicians like Dominic Raab take the weak way out and blame those who rely on food banks rather than face up to the truth, which is seven years of Tory failure.

"With a million more food supplies being issued this year compared to 2010, the growth of food banks under the Tories is a national scandal."