'The country's on its a**e' - Sheffield United star urges people to vote for 'least worst option' in upcoming general election to reduce reliance on foodbanks

A Sheffield United player has urged voters to choose the 'least worst option' in the upcoming general election to reduce reliance on foodbanks, adding: 'The country's on its a**e'.
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Ben Osborn, the United wing-back and midfielder, retweeted a message on Twitter suggesting that the number of foodbanks in the UK has increased from ONE in 2004, to over 2,000 in 2019.

That number, according to the tweet, is more than the amount of McDonald’s restaurants in this country.

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And Osborn, in a tweet of his own which now has over 3,000 ‘likes’ at the time of writing, said: “Have a walk round your local city centre one evening and you'll soon see that the country’s on its arse.

“Can't go on like this, vote the least worse of all the options.”

Indepedent factchecking charity Full Fact has verified the claim that there are more foodbanks than chains of McDonald’s.

It says: "There are approximately 1,300 McDonald’s restaurants in the UK, according to the company.

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"A recent report by the House Of Commons Library found that there are at least 2,000 food banks in the UK.

Sunderland's Chris Maguire (left) and Sheffield United's Ben Osborn (right): Nigel French/PA WireSunderland's Chris Maguire (left) and Sheffield United's Ben Osborn (right): Nigel French/PA Wire
Sunderland's Chris Maguire (left) and Sheffield United's Ben Osborn (right): Nigel French/PA Wire

"This figure is an underestimate, as it primarily comes from the Trussell Trust and the Independent Food Aid Network, and does not include every type of food bank, such as food banks operating in schools."

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