More turn to UK food banks as food and fuel bills soar

We can’t do anything, because the three biggest powers are at play. China with the viruses and bringing the pandemic, US with NATO extension planning and the Russians reacting with real war on Ukraine and new Cold War consequences, leading to boycotts, embargoes, delivery chain problems, energy and food supply at stake too. And that all at once on everyone on this planet. That’s quite a mess, our few biggest brothers and sisters have constructed for us. We are quite done, now and for the next years and decades, my friends!

A simple solution is to reduce or remove the fuel surcharge of nearly 60 Pence per litre. And other duties on food.

The same is happening in Canada where in some provinces the combined Federal and provincial fuel taxes are as high as 47% .

Both the UK and Canada are oil producers yet both pay higher fuel bills than Japan a country that imports every drop of oil.

The 118 pounds ($145) of benefits he gets every two weeks don’t go far.

If that is the total sum, that is incredibly low. Must be more to it, like savings this guy has or am I wrong?

Food banks may become the electoral noose around the necks of the Tory fat cats who want to have their cake and eat it and blithely carry on partying while the other lot get their food "for free".

an inner London borough with high rates of inequality: almost half of all children there are in poverty.

Food banks in London and New York, privately run soup kitchens for children in Tokyo.

"New capitalism", alt-right populism or neo-liberal market ideology does not seem to be working for the majority of the populace in so-called democratic nations.

Time for a change to the models that are working (democratic socialism).

I have used a food bank, at college I experienced issues with my bursary, and access to my bank account.

You have to be referred, my college GP insisted I went, the food bank will issue a food parcel.

I donate every year to a food bank trust.

I guess it is the stigma attached to be labeled a beggar.

The Tax payer should fund food banks. what society turns there backs on the most vernable for whatever reason? .

Sven Asai:

You're correct in identifying China and Russia as the cause of all the world's food supply and associated problems, however IF Russia had behaved like a normal country and not invaded it's neighbours in Ukraine, then there would have been no need for the NATO expansion which you mentioned..... indeed, Sweden and Finland have resisted joining NATO for decades, but now feel forced into doing so, just like if your neighbours were burgled, you'd feel it necessary to beef-up the security at your property.

The real enemies are the two dictators, and removing these should be the civilised world's top priority: once Putin is taken out, Europe will return to normal. China's a harder one to fix.

Matt Hartwell...

The 118 pounds ($145) of benefits he gets every two weeks don’t go far.

If that is the total sum, that is incredibly low. Must be more to it, like savings this guy has or am I wrong?

You are not wrong. He will get help with his rent, utilities, council tax, probably a mobility allowance if he is obese.

privately run soup kitchens for children in Tokyo.

????

Could you please point out where?

Tokyo like all of Japan provides school lunches and generally very good ones.

So not sure where these " soup kitchen for children" are.

And I lived in the poorest ward for 29 years in a poor neighbourhood.

Rice balls for the homeless along the Sumida Gawa and Arakawa (rivers) yes and this has been since I arrived in Japan.

But "soup kitchen for children" never seen or heard of it

But "soup kitchen for children" never seen or heard of it

Some have eyes but they cannot see.

https://japantoday.com/category/features/kuchikomi/private-initiative-soup-kitchens-spring-up-to-deal-with-child-poverty#comment-3028836

There is poverty in Japan, but not on this scale.

As a Briton myself, I am proud that so many people donate items, cash, and their time and energy to make this happen. At the same time, I am ashamed that the country's government forces people into doing this, i.e., providing and receiving charity. As the graph in the link shows, this was unheard of twenty years ago.

https://www.statista.com/statistics/382695/uk-foodbank-users/

Feed the world this is what the world leaders wanted. First they start a famine with Covid, now its the monkey virus, then they choke off supplies. It's either feast or famine the rich is getting richer and the poor is getting poorer. This will be the norm food kitchens or government subsidies!!! But still tax the people to death look at California the state has a 97 billion dollar SURPLUS. What that says is they are taxing the citizens to leave the state it is impossible to stay, those that want to leave will those that can't will just get in the food lines.

They should of never left the EU

Man cannot live on bread alone,you can live without bread,but most humans need meat protein,not here to offend vegetarian

The 118 pounds ($145) of benefits he gets every two weeks don’t go far.

If that is the total sum, that is incredibly low. Must be more to it, like savings this guy has or am I wrong?

I struggle to understand this too. UK unemployment benefit is £154 every two weeks. It's a paltry amount, and doesn't go far - £11 a day. You would get housing benefit on top of that, but it would be a struggle to survive on this. Food, gas, electricity etc. Obviously that's the idea but it looks like it is impossible to survive now.

By contrast, a state pension is a relatively luxurious £150 - basically twice the unemployment rate.

Thanks Putin.

taxes taxes and more taxes did I mention taxes.

Where does the story mention taxation? This has nothing to do about taxes or stimulus payments. Nice try.

It's about the global supply shock, thanks mostly to Russia. For example, Russia is blockading ing Ukraine's sea ports, stopping the delivery of wheat and other essential gain products like cooking oil. Choking food supply tends to raise prices, believe it or not.

“What happens in the summer holidays, when you’ve got five screaming children at home? You couldn’t afford to feed them anyway, so what are you going to do when the gas and electric runs out and you have no food?” she said. “That’s when I think we’re going to see the spike.”

The UK benefits system rewards those with large families and single mothers will be at the top of the list for accommodation.

The system might want to reward those married and working and paying taxes which it doesn’t seem to do adequately.

How's Brexit going, Boris?

@dargon

"New capitalism", alt-right populism or neo-liberal market ideology does not seem to be working for the majority of the populace in so-called democratic nations.

Time for a change to the models that are working (democratic socialism).

What is "democratic socialism"? Like Bernie Sanders or various Western European warmongers posing as "left wing"?

Because Engels wrote:

[ Bourgeois Socialists: ]

The second category consists of adherents of present-day society who have been frightened for its future by the evils to which it necessarily gives rise. What they want, therefore, is to maintain this society while getting rid of the evils which are an inherent part of it.

To this end, some propose mere welfare measures – while others come forward with grandiose systems of reform which, under the pretense of re-organizing society, are in fact intended to preserve the foundations, and hence the life, of existing society.

Communists must unremittingly struggle against these bourgeois socialists because they work for the enemies of communists and protect the society which communists aim to overthrow.

How's Brexit going, Boris?

Bread lines, soup kitchens and etc are far from just a British phenomena.

A simple solution is to reduce or remove the fuel surcharge of nearly 60 Pence per litre. And other duties on food.

What duties on food? Cutting tax on fuel will only do so much; pay and pensions not keeping up with inflation, Brexit issues and the war in Ukraine have combined to drive many in the UK into malnutrition. The government are washing their hands of the thing and saying if everyone gets a better paid job or works more hours then their problems will be solved. Won’t help pensioners or that bloke in the article with health issues. And where are these well paid jobs? I could do with one. What about Prime Minister, I could do that.

The sanctions on Russia are impacting more upon Europe than upon Russia. It's a luxury policy that Europe cannot afford and will lead to catastrophic economic problems and political destabilisation in winter if Ukraine are not given enough weaponry to win their country back by then, or Putin has not been bumped off. European governments will not survive the impact on their citizens, and Europeans will not freeze or starve for Ukraine.

If it is an attempt to force people to use less energy, to create fewer emissions, it is too clumsy and brutal a way of doing it. The collateral damage - social, political and economic - will be astronomical.

The moral high ground is lovely, but you have to be able to pay the rent. Europe does not yet have enough green tech to fill in for a Europe-wide self-denial of Russian energy. Grabbing other nations' resources to make up for it just spreads the pain globally.

Europe has chosen a policy it is not well-resourced enough to afford.

Disability living allowance is £64.5 a week BUT he will also get Universal credit personal independence payments. Up to £4000 a year for a vehicle if needed. Housing benefit to pay for his accomodation, possibly meals on wheels free lunches, and a free TV license. Not living the high life but a lot more than the £64.50 stated.

How's Brexit going, Boris?

What's Brexit got to do with it? Prices fell following Brexit. They have shot up since the war, while the covid-related supply constraints nudged them higher as well.

But, hey, politically-biased narratives are always better than facts, right?

Mr KiplingToday  07:41 am JST

Disability living allowance is £64.5 a week BUT he will also get Universal credit personal independence payments. Up to £4000 a year for a vehicle if needed. Housing benefit to pay for his accomodation, possibly meals on wheels free lunches, and a free TV license. Not living the high life but a lot more than the £64.50 stated.

He can get UC, maybe PIP, probably not. He would not be eligible for a mobility vehicle unless he was on PIP. He can get housing benefit, but it usually doesn’t cover everything, a council tax reduction. He is not eligible for meals on wheels (which are not free) or a free TV licence because he is too young. None of this helps pay for steep increases in food and energy bills.

You are just making things up to demonise the poor and question their use of food banks.

Luddite...

I don't question their use of food banks, I would love to be given free food. Over 9.5 million adults of working age are on benefits the UK. Not all of them are deserving.

@Mr Kipling. You googled benefits available in the Uk and immediately applied them to the man featured in the article, without bothering to find out eligibility and application. You also assume it’s just those on benefits who use food banks. Pensioners, the working poor, the sick are all being referred to these places. And yes, you do need a referral by your GP to use a food bank, as they are best placed to see how malnutrition is affecting you. My friend has two jobs, her partner works yet they can no longer make ends meet. She uses a food bank. NHS Trusts are setting up food banks for their staff. This isn’t about scrounging and scamming free food, it’s about people being priced out of basic needs such as gas, electricity, rent and food.

Luddite....

This isn’t about scrounging and scamming free food, it’s about people being priced out of basic needs such as gas, electricity, rent and food.

Yet it seems they can still afford their cigs, beer and Sky TV.

Make better life choices.