TV legend's chilling warning over 'growing up in poverty' as grim new figures published

Over 14 million people face hunger across the UK, with growing numbers of working families turning to food banks, new research by Trussell has found.

That’s the equivalent of one in six (16%) households and more than the combined populations of London, Manchester and Glasgow. Conducted by Ipsos on behalf of the charity, the figures are a sharp increase from 2022, when Trussell estimated that 11.6 million people were facing hunger.

The survey also reveals that young children (aged 0-5) are most likely to be growing up in food insecure households compared to other children. More than one in four (27%) children are now growing up in a household facing hunger and children aged five and under are the hardest hit, with one in three (31%) living in a food insecure household.

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The charity warned when people’s incomes are so low even a small change in household circumstance such as a car breaking down can leave families with no option but to turn to a food bank.

Trussell says this report should serve as a stark warning for the UK Government to take urgent action to meet its manifesto commitment to end the need for emergency food.

This includes scrapping the two-child limit and providing better support to private renters on low incomes to keep up with the real cost of rents.

Succession star and Trussell supporter Brian Cox said: “From my own experience, I know the harsh reality of growing up in poverty and the lasting impact it has. The constant worry of how to put food on the table is a feeling that never leaves you. No child should have to know what a food bank is, let alone need one. The UK Government must scrap the two-child limit to ensure children have the best start in life. Because no child should be held back by hunger.”

His intervention comes just days after Mr Cox branded Nigel Farage "venal and selfish", adding he was dazzled that people were taken in by Mr Farage.

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Helen Barnard, director of policy, research and impact at Trussell, said: “It isn't right that millions of people from all walks of life - including pensioners, disabled people, working families, and carers - are struggling to make ends meet. Nobody in the UK should face hunger. The UK government rightly committed to end the need for food banks and ensure every child has the best possible start in life; this research is the benchmark against which they will be judged.

"Parents are telling us they are losing sleep, worrying about how they will pay for new shoes, school trips, keep the lights on, or afford the bus fare to work. We now need the UK government to match urgency with ambition to turn the tide of hunger and hardship, for good.”

A DWP spokesperson said: “This Government is determined to tackle the unacceptable rise in food bank dependence. In addition to extending free school meals and ensuring the poorest children don’t go hungry in the holidays through a new £1billion crisis support package, our Child Poverty Taskforce will publish an ambitious strategy later this year.

“We are also overhauling jobcentres and reforming the broken welfare system to support people into good, secure jobs, while always protecting those who need it most.”

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