In response to the Trussell Trust’s publication of figures that reveal that 166,512 three day emergency food supplies were given out across London between April 2018 and March 2019, marking an increase of 24% on the previous year, Labour’s London Assembly Food Spokesperson, Fiona Twycross AM, said:
“It is disgraceful that we are seeing dependence on food banks in London on the rise yet again.
“It’s clear these figures are just the tip of the iceberg, but they expose the Government’s unwillingness to address the factors that are driving so many families into food poverty. It’s simply not right that they are passing their duty of care to the most vulnerable in our society onto charities and an already stretched public sector.
“The Government must turn this situation around, and quickly. Tackling food poverty will necessitate addressing low pay and reversing the disastrous consequences of their welfare reforms. They can do all of this, they just have to choose to act.”
ENDS