As inflation spirals and pushes up the cost of a weekly shop,
Labour will demand the Government sets out its plan to tackle
soaring prices and hunger in the UK.
, Shadow Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs Secretary, will use an opposition day debate in
Parliament on Tuesday to urge the government to focus its efforts
on fixing the increasing squeeze on households rather than saving
the Prime Minister’s job.
Labour’s motion will note MPs’ concerns over “households bracing
themselves for the biggest drop in living standards in thirty
years; that the cost of living crisis includes steep price
increases in everyday and essential food items, making the
situation worse for the 4.7 million adults and 2.5 million
children already living in food insecurity and risking more
people experiencing food insecurity”.
Labour will say the Government is “making the cost of living
crisis worse through tax hikes, low growth, falling real wages,
and a failure to tackle the energy crisis” and will urge
ministers to set out a national strategy for food, including how
it intends to ensure access to high quality, sustainable,
affordable food for all and meet the United Nations goal to end
hunger by 2030.
It comes as millions feel the crunch across Britain, with
families facing hiked taxes, soaring energy bills and rising
inflation.
Jim McMahon, Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Secretary, said:
“Thanks to the abject failure of the Conservative government, far
too many working families are trapped on low wages with little
financial wriggle room.
“At a time when inflation is spiralling, the government should be
ensuring people across the country are able to buy healthy and
good quality food. This can only be achieved by taking a
responsible, strategic approach to this complex and increasingly
important issue.
“Labour’s plan to keep bills low would cut £200 off most
household energy bills, with £600 in total going to those
households who need it most – cancelling out almost the entire
rise in energy prices.
“The next Labour government would support British business to
bolster sustainability and affordability of good quality food as
part of our contract to deliver security, prosperity and respect
for the British people.”
Ends
Notes to editors:
