As a result of the cost-of-living crisis, people across the UK are being forced to choose between heating and eating. Food poverty has become increasing acute in recent years, with food bank usage continuing to rise at an alarming rate. Approximately 8 million people are having trouble affording food and half a million are needing to use foodbanks – a totally unacceptable situation in the sixth richest country in the world.

The Co-operative Party have long campaigned for food justice in the UK. We have called for action to be taken at a local and national level to end food poverty across the nation. Our local government representatives have worked hard to appoint food champions within councils, create and deliver food plans and develop local food partnerships to help put food on people’s tables.
Nationally, Labour & Co-operative MPs have worked to support Healthy Start schemes and create a Right to Food. This would commit the UK to achieve the UN’s second Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) of ending hunger domestically by 2030.

In these difficult economic times, we believe the National Food Strategy needs to be strengthened. We need to have a National Food Strategy which delivers food security, establishes a Right to Food and ends hunger throughout the UK. Action is needed now to help families, farmers, and the food system meet the challenges we face.

To find out more and get involved, make sure you join us on the Monday of Labour Party Conference at 5.30 in Room 4 Hall 2 of the ACC Liverpool. Speakers will include Jim McMahon MP, Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary; Paul Gerrard, Campaign & Public Affairs Director at the Co-op Group and Kath Dalmeny, CEO of Sustain. Our expert panel will discuss how we can establish a National Food Strategy which is fit for purpose and helps to end hunger and food insecurity across the UK. We hope to see you there!