The Right to Food Commission has written to the Prime Minister asking him to urgently introduce radical measures they believe are needed to help the millions of people across the country affected by food insecurity. 

The Commission has asked the Prime Minister to raise incomes, cap essential food prices as well as supermarket profits and provide support to lifeline community organisations that are feeding people across the UK. 

Their calls come after a series of evidence sessions across the country that have heard harrowing and distressing evidence about the extent of food insecurity and the real human impacts being felt by millions.

The work of the commission is ongoing, but the Commission has felt compelled to write now to the PM in the knowledge things could get much worse for people because of global impacts driving up the cost of food. They are fearful that a new wave of food inflation will drive more people into food poverty and hunger.

The Commission also felt the need to write to the PM after reports that supermarkets intend to introduce dynamic pricing in relation to the purchase of food.  

Ian Byrne MP, Vice-Chair of the Right to Food Commission said: “We have heard the most harrowing and distressing evidence from people across the country about the extent of food insecurity in their communities and the real and tangible impacts it’s having on then.

“As things currently stand, there are millions of people feeling insecure about food and often where their next meal is coming from. That is bad enough but if this new wave of food inflation happens we are genuinely fearful that it could drive more people into food insecurity and intensify the plight of those already experiencing it. 

“We believe that the government must act now to support people. It’s a structural economic issue that sees so many without the means to cover their basic needs and it’s structural changes at government level that will offer solutions.

“If this government is to rebuild trust with the British public then it must address some of the most pressing issues facing people and they do not get more important than ensuring that every citizen in this country has the means to access food.”

Barrie Margets Chair of the Commission said: “Our commission has confirmed that food insecurity is having a hugely detrimental impact on people across the country. Health, educational, and social outcomes are being impacted and urgent change is needed to help those people and communities who are faced with the daily challenge of trying to feed themselves, their children and, if a lifeline local organisation, people across their community. 

“With a new wave of food inflation likely, it is imperative that the government urgently acts to support the millions of people already caught in a cycle of poverty and food insecurity as well as the many more who could be drawn into a life of feeling insecure about food.”

Sarah Woolley, General Secretary of the BFAWU and vice Chair of the Commission said: “From the evidence we have gathered plus in my work representing food workers, I know first-hand how people are struggling to make ends meet and do not have enough income to purchase the food they need. Our union has year on year heard how food workers often cannot afford the very food they produce. That is a disgrace and a stain on our society and economy, 

“The government needs to intervene and drive up incomes. It must also make sure that supermarket prices and profits are capped, and it must urgently ensure that the dynamic pricing of food is never allowed to ever happen.”

Commissioner and Consultant Respiratory Paediatrician in Liverpool, Ian Sinha, said: “During this commission, we have heard first-hand about the hunger children are experiencing in school, and the food insecurity they and their families are experiencing. I also see this and the negative health impacts in my work as a doctor in Liverpool. 

“The PM in his speech to the country this week rightly spoke about changes that could help young families save for a house – but how are they expected to save in this way when mothers are already choosing not to feed themselves in order to feed their children, which is exactly what we have heard during the work of the commission? Radical structural change to address people’s basic requirement to food is needed urgently.”

Commissioner and Economic Social and Cultural Rights Lead at Amnesty International, Jen Clark said: “This government, like those that came before them, have failed in their obligation to fulfil the basic human right to food. The Right to Food Commission has heard evidence from communities across the UK showing that far from being protected, people are driven into debt, hunger and skipping meals to feed their children. From overwhelmed community kitchens to overloaded food banks, charities are stepping in because the state has failed to act.

“The scale and urgency of this food insecurity crisis means if we continue to heavily depend on goodwill in the charity sector to respond, we will eventually hit catastrophe. With food prices set to rise again and troubling pricing practices of big corporations threatening to undermine access to food, the government must take immediate action either to drive down costs or ensure people have enough income to live with dignity.”

The full text of the letter is here.

And another letter…

In a separate initiative, charities campaigning for lower fuel bills have written to the  Prime Minister urging the government to go further and faster to solve the energy costs crisis.

It comes as energy bills are forecast to rise by 18% in July and a further 4% in September, with Ofgem due to confirm the changes on 27th May. Any increase will take effect from 1st July.

Polling for the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit found that the cost of living was the top driver of voting intention overall and energy bills were the single biggest cost-of-living concern among voters in the recent elections.

Simon Francis, Coordinator of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition who helped organise the letter, said:“In just 15 days, households will learn how much their energy bills will increase. The government should be focused on working out a package of support for vulnerable households and those in energy debt now, while urgently reforming electricity prices to bring down costs for everyone.”

Tessa Khan from Uplift, one of the signatories to the letter, commented:“Labour must not repeat the mistakes of past governments that failed to prepare this country for soaring energy costs driven by overseas wars. Spending tens of billions propping up a broken fossil fuel system is not an answer, nor is more drilling when we know it won’t lower bills and the UK has already burned through most of its gas reserves. Instead, ministers must urgently scale up support for households to switch to clean energy and reforms to ensure they feel the savings.”

The open letter, coordinated by the End Fuel Poverty Coalition and signed by over 40 organisations including Asthma + Lung UK, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Disability Rights UK, Fair By Design, Friends of the Earth, Independent Age and the Social Workers Union warns that without further intervention “millions of households will continue to suffer.”

Lord John Bird, a crossbench peer, signed the letter on behalf of the Big Issue and said: “The British public punished the government at the ballot box last week for not going fast or far enough on cost-of-living pressures. Voters are fed up with being pummelled by rising household bills they simply can’t afford. People need to feel the change being promised in their everyday lives by the time winter rolls back in. Lower bills in warmer homes would be a good place to start.”

Jan Shortt, General Secretary, National Pensioners Convention, added: “It is totally wrong that customers are always expected to pay the ever increasing price of energy.  Older people, particularly those with complex health conditions, need warmth and comfort even in warmer weather.  Whilst the government has taken some steps the message at the ballot box was not enough to help households stay out of debt.”

The full text of the letter is here.