Poll shows public critical of government over food poverty

Today Labour MPs are preparing to vote in an opposition day debate on food banks – and a poll out this morning shows the extent to which the public believe the government have failed on fuel poverty. 59% of those polled by YouGov were critical of the government’s handling of food poverty, whilst only 17% thought the government had dealt with food poverty at all well.

The poll – carried out as part of Unite’s Christmas appeal – shows that 82% believe the national minimum wage should be raised to tackle food poverty, whilst three quarters of the public blame the rise in food bank use on rising living costs and food prices.

Support for a higher minimum wage comes from across the political spectrum, three quarters of UKIP and Tory voters want such a rise, whilst over 90% of Labour and Lib Dem voters back such a change too.

Meanwhile, a huge 78% of the public believe that food bank usage may increase in the next ten years – showing why today’s debate in Parliament is so important.