Unions, Academics, Campaigners, Football Fans and Clergy Tell Starmer to End Foodbank Britain

As Labour prepares for its first party conference in Liverpool since winning the election a coalition of trade unionists, academics, football fans, right to food campaigners and the Bishop of Liverpool have written an open letter to Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, calling for an end Foodbank Britain and warning him not to normalise food banks.

Organised by the Food and Work Network (FAWN), the Bakers Food and Allied Workers Union (BFAWU) and the Right to Food Campaign, the letter is calling on the Government to end the reliance on food charity and food banks by driving up wages, improving working terms and conditions and re-establishing a compassionate system of genuine social security.

Sarah Woolley BFAWU General Secretary said:

Labour has the chance to end hunger in this country. and it must take the opportunity to tackle food insecurity and end the need for food banks. It is a disgrace that so many of our people, including many in work, have to rely on food banks to feed themselves and their families. This letter and the signatories on it show clearly that we expect action and that normalising food bank Britain will not be tolerated. 

Alex Colas FAWN and Professor of International Relations at Birkbeck University said:

This letter from such an array of signatories is a loud and clear message to the Government to end Foodbank Britain. It’s scandalous that in the world’s sixth largest economy there’s widespread food poverty linked to work insecurity and low pay.There is no room for error for Labour when it comes to tackling this stain on our country. People expect Labour to end  hunger and food insecurity. They must now deliver. ends

Please see full letter and list of signatories here https://labourlist.org/2024/09/keir-starmer-food-bank-britain-trade-union-leaders/