UK MP Suggests British People Combat Food Scarcity by ‘Cherishing Turnips’

Rabat – Therese Coffey, British Conservative MP and Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs received backlash for saying that the UK should “cherish” turnips amidst shortages of vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes.

Coffey said in response to a question in the parliament on Thursday, “It’s important to make sure that we cherish the specialisms that we have in this country.”

The MP shamed the British public for their outrage over the fruit and vegetable shortages, stating: “A lot of people would be eating turnips right now rather than thinking necessarily about aspects of lettuce and tomatoes and similar.”

Conservative cabinet minister Thérèse Coffey suggests the UK should ‘cherish’ turnips.

Her comments come amidst shortages of vegetables such as cucumbers and tomatoes. pic.twitter.com/UfoTtYixPU

— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) February 24, 2023

Social media users expressed anger over her remarks, one angry user suggested that Coffey is unfit for “frontline politics” and that her position indicates that the UK is “deep in the mire.”

That Coffey is anywhere near frontline politics demonstrates just how deep in the mire we are.

— Gary McVeigh-Kaye (@CheKaye) February 23, 2023

While other users pointed out the fact that the statement comes from a woman “who earns more claiming expenses than many people on a low income,” while stressing that she “scoffs lavish subsidised meals that most likely don’t consist of turnips!”

This from a woman who earns more claiming expenses than many people on a low income, let’s not forget she also scoffs lavish subsidised meals that most likely don’t consist of turnips! ?

— Chris Tofts (@ChrisChristofts) February 24, 2023

Coffey’s statement made it to the front page of British newspaper Daily Mirror under the headline, “Let Them Eat Turnips.”

This from a woman who earns more claiming expenses than many people on a low income, let’s not forget she also scoffs lavish subsidised meals that most likely don’t consist of turnips! ?

— Chris Tofts (@ChrisChristofts) February 24, 2023

The phrase is inspired by Marrie-Antoinette’s famously attributed quote, “Let them eat cake.”

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, the former queen said the famous quote during the french revolution in response to peasants having no bread.

“Because cake is more expensive than bread, the anecdote has been cited as an example of Marie-Antoinette’s obliviousness to the conditions and daily lives of ordinary people,” detailed the same source.

The MP also came under fire for suggesting that people who cannot afford food can work “longer hours.” The comments come at a time of unprecedented poverty levels in the UK.

“There is no doubt inflation is really tough at the moment…Of course we do know that one of the best ways to boost their incomes is not only to get into work if they’re not in work already, but potentially to work some more hours, to get upskilled, to get a higher income.” Coffey said.

The UK is currently experiencing alarming shortages of certain fruits and vegetables, particularly tomatoes, with several supermarkets restricting the number of products customers can purchase.

According to the BBC, the British government attributed the shortages of these products to bad weather conditions in South Europe and North Africa, specifically Morocco and Spain, two of the UK’s main fruit and vegetable exporters.