Eustice: Choose ‘value brands’ to help manage household finances

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Opposition politicians condemned Mr Eustice’s remarks as “patronising”, while MoneySavingExpert founder Martin Lewis said that while there was nothing wrong with the advice, it is “bullshit” to suggest people on the lowest incomes do not already know and do that. “Where it gets harder is on things like chicken and poultry, and some fresh produce, where those increased feed costs do end up getting passed through the system because these people work on wafer-thin margins and they have to pass that cost through.” Mr Eustice said “generally speaking, what people find is by going for some of the value brands” or supermarket own-brand products “they can actually contain and manage their household budget”. Mr McFadden added: “It’s time for the Government to get real help to people rather than comments that simply expose how little they understand about the real struggles people are facing to pay their bills.” Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokeswoman Wendy Chamberlain said: “These comments show George Eustice and the Conservatives are living in a parallel universe. “Families and pensioners who can’t afford their weekly shop need more help, not patronising advice from a clueless minister.” Mr Eustice’s comments follow widespread advice to consumers trying to cope with the cost-of-living crisis to consider dropping a price level at the supermarket to save money.