A Conservative Party chairman has controversially claimed that many North Staffordshire households turning to food banks during the cost of living crisis do not need to do so.

Graham Hutton, chairman of the Newcastle-under-Lyme Conservative Association, commented that families need to learn how to budget and to cook meals from scratch. He also claimed people should 'put on another jumper' this winter to save on energy costs.

And the 71-year-old – who represents Bradwell, Porthill and Wolstanton on Staffordshire County Council – also questioned why retirees aged from 50 to 65 were 'not in work'. He told a national paper: "An awful lot of people who use food banks do because it's free food and they wouldn't pass on something free.

"There are families that need help, but what they really need help in is learning how to cook and learning how to budget.

"I'm not too worried about the energy bills and people will have to start wearing jumpers. We can't bankrupt the country because people won't put jumpers on."

He then said immigrant families know how to budget, look after themselves and cook, commenting: "It will be poor white British who will have most difficulty because they can't budget."

Referring to 'young' retirees, he added: "He said: "They're not on a great income. They're probably having to go for Universal Credit. You just think why have you stopped work?"

Now Newcastle's Labour group has condemned Mr Hutton over his 'offensive' comments.

Newcastle's Labour group leader, Councillor Dave Jones, said: "We are facing an unprecedented cost of living crisis, with a Conservative government that is asleep at the wheel.

"The comments by Councillor Hutton are offensive to residents, across the borough, that are struggling to meet the rising costs of energy and food."

Mr Jones said his party's plans would mean residents in Staffordshire wouldn't pay a penny more for energy this winter because they would freeze household energy bills if they were in government. He also said Labour would scrap additional costs for using a pre-payment meter, and better insulate homes.

Labour's deputy group leader in Newcastle, Councillor Andrew Fox-Hewitt, said the comments were 'insulting' and he called on Mr Hutton to resign.

He said: "The comments show he is out of touch with the residents he is supposed to represent. Residents are calling out for help from this Conservative government, and in return their county councillor offers nothing but insults. He should consider his position and resign."

Asked about the comments he'd made, Mr Hutton told the LDRS he felt his words were taken out of context and that the media was exaggerating the cost of living increase.

He said: "[The reporter] has taken a lot of stuff out of context. I said the media is beating up the government about the cost of living, and it's not as bad as the media makes out. I'm not commenting any further."