Ian Byrne, Labour MP for Liverpool, West Derby, says the right to food must be made real and enforceable
It was wonderful to address the recent FBU conference on a Right to Food motion and to see it passed unanimously.
The fear felt across the nation during this cost-of-living emergency is palpable. Millions are worried if they will freeze or starve in their homes. Hunger is a political choice made by this Tory government; like the cuts to Universal Credit, benefit sanctions, the erosion of worker’s rights, all alongside a decade of austerity that has cut our vital services to the bone.
The time for sticking plasters – such as reliance on thousands of foodbank and pantry volunteers and donors – is over. We need systemic change so that all people can live with the opportunity of health, happiness and dignity. Food rights must be made real and enforceable – and the government must be held accountable for making sure nobody in our communities goes hungry. A right to food must be enshrined in UK law.
The Right to Food campaign called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak to deliver a Right To Food in his Spring Statement. We asked him to end food poverty, with five key requests:
1. Providing universal free school meals
2. Stating how much of minimum / living wages and benefits (on which people are expected to live) is for food
3. “Right To Food” legislation to be accompanied by oversight and enforcement powers granted to a new independent regulatory body that will hold government to account
4. Funding community kitchens including dining clubs and meals-on-wheels services for the elderly and vulnerable, school holiday meals for those most in need and community cookery clubs
5. Ensuring food security – and taking this duty into account when setting competition, planning, transport, local government and all other policy
It is an honour to have the FBU join us in this fight and you can find out more about the Right to Food campaign at ianbyrne.org/ righttofood-campaign
