Ludlow Lib Dem candidate Charlotte Barnes vows to end need for food banks

Charlotte Barnes, Liberal Democrat candidate for Ludlow and south Shropshire, has pledged to work to overcome the problems that drive people to use desperate measures.

She said: "It's really shocking that use of food banks is going up everywhere, even here in south Shropshire. Britain is after all one of the top 10 economies in the world.

"Our food banks are run by hard working volunteers who are to be congratulated for giving up their time to help struggling people. I am impressed by the way they provide a balanced, nutritious food parcel, especially as it is not usually practical to include fresh fruit and vegetables.

"But I don't think that five years ago anyone would have expected the need for food banks to have grown so quickly.

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"The volunteers at food banks tell me that much of the present need comes from changes to the welfare system and delays in people getting benefit payments.

"I think everyone underestimated how difficult it is to change the benefits system without leaving people out of pocket.

"Shropshire Council must act too. In the last two years, it has given £850,000 back to central government. This is money that was meant for needy local people.

"If I am elected, I will work hard to get the problems that causes people to use food banks eliminated.

"In five years' time, I want to be able to go to people volunteering at food banks here and tell them: 'Thanks hugely for all your efforts over the last ten years. But we don't need you anymore.

"It will be a real failure if we still have foods banks here in South Shropshire at the end of the next parliament," she said.

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