We’re asking all candidates for local councillors and politicians from all parties to commit to an ‘Essentials Guarantee’ and work to end the need for food banks if they are elected on 4 May.
Poverty is an issue that needs action from all sides. If we want to create long-term change so that people are protected from needing a food bank in the future, we need everyone – whatever their political opinion – to get behind the change that’s needed.
Our social security system should support anyone in need of help, but right now it’s not providing enough income to cover the cost of life’s essentials, with most people at food banks in receipt of Universal Credit. We’re calling on the UK government for an ‘Essentials Guarantee’ to make sure that the basic rate of Universal Credit is at least enough to afford the essentials we all need, such as food, household bills and travel costs.
Please take action now and in just a couple of minutes you can email your MP and ask for their support for the Essentials Guarantee. Together we can send a clear message to all MPs that the basic rate of Universal Credit must at least be enough to afford the essentials we all need to get by.
You can fill in the form to email your MP directly on this link: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-involved/campaigns/guarantee-our-essentials/
Download the letter we wrote to candidates asking for their support.