SHEFFIELD MP David Blunkett visited a ‘pop up’ food bank outside the Houses of Parliament to draw attention to poverty in the UK.
The Labour MP for Brightside and Hillsborough visited the Unite food bank as reliance on food support rockets.
He said the number of people supported by food banks has grown from 2,800 in 2005-6 to more than 128,000 in 2011-12, while Britain’s largest network of food banks, the Trussell Trust, predicts it will need to support 260,000 people over the next year.
Mr Blunkett said: “The work carried out by food banks in giving vital supplies to people both in and out of work is invaluable.
“But it is appalling this level of support is needed in 21st century Britain and at the same time this government is set to give huge tax breaks to millionaires.
“There are four food banks in my constituency and, while the Deputy PM Nick Clegg has the lowest number of children in poverty anywhere in Britain at less than five per cent in Sheffield Hallam, the figure is 34 per cent in my constituency.”
Comments