Even as the Government crashed the economy with tax giveaways targeted at the richest, local food banks were already seeing big increases in demand. I visited Brixton and Norwood food bank last weekend to raise awareness of the urgent need for food, clothing, and sanitary product donations.

The number of emergency food parcels distributed by Lambeth food banks increased by 15% between April 2021 and March 2022. They’re expecting this to go higher, especially if the Government inflicts another real terms benefits cut on the thousands of families who need them in our area. As people struggle to feed their families, food banks are asking everyone who can to donate a couple of food items to the baskets in local supermarkets. And people who are struggling don’t just need food, they also need other everyday consumable; in particular: sanitary products, toiletries, warm blankets and clothes.

Up and down Britain, food banks are stepping up to meet ever-increasing demand. But nobody should be left relying on emergency food parcels in one of the richest countries in the world, especially not when money is being handed out to the wealthiest with reckless abandon. That’s why I’m supporting the Right to Food campaign and pushing to make Lambeth a Right to Food Borough. Let’s campaign to put a legal responsibility for the government to end hunger and tackle its root cause: poverty.