Some of St Albans’ most vulnerable residents will benefit from outspoken Katie Hopkins’ recent libel blunder.
Since the Daily Mail journalist was ordered to pay £24,000 plus costs to food blogger Jack Monroe - for falsely suggesting she approved of vandalising war memorials - a spoof fundraising page has drummed up thousands of pounds for food banks.
A JustGiving page, appearing at first sight to be in aid of Katie Hopkins to help her pay substantial legal fees, was set up by satirical website The Southend News Network.
When confused internet users click on the page to read more, they find it is actually collecting money for The Trussell Trust, which runs 400 food banks in the UK, including those in St Albans, Wheathampstead and Harpenden.
The controversial columnist notoriously attacked food bank visitors in 2015, when she said The Trussell Trust was “not helping huge numbers of needy people”, adding that they are “giving free food to dependents who have honed their blagging skills from years on the take”.
Food bank centres in St Albans in Cell Barnes Lane and Abbots Avenue, Hilldyke Road, Wheathampstead, and Holcroft Road, Harpenden, serve hundreds of locals in poverty with essential groceries, 90 per cent of which are given by the public.
They welcome donations from anyone wishing to give non-perishable food items, such as rice, pasta, tins of soup and beans. There are collection points at Waitrose in Leyton Road, and YWAM in Ambrose Lane, both Harpenden, as well as Tesco Metro, St Peter’s Street and Waitrose, Ermine Close, in St Albans.
The Just Giving page, mockingly claiming to be concerned for Katie Hopkins and her “glittering career in journalism”, suggests that it wants to raise £324,000 so that the writer won’t “endure any financial hardship as a result of this massive injustice”.
Katie Hopkins accidentally publicly accused the food blogger of graffiti-ing Second World War memorials but had meant to Tweet New Statesman columnist Laurie Penny.
To donate to the page, which has totted up donations worth £13,400 so far, click here.
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