Putney MP Calls for Action on Food Price Inflation

Describes current situation of many of her constituents as 'dire'

Fleur Anderson MP helping out at a local foodbank

March 3, 2023

Fleur Anderson has described the situation for many of her constituents in Putney as ‘dire’, as new research finds that the cost of food staples such as pasta have nearly doubled in two years.

The MP is calling for the Government to do everything in its power to support households trying to cope with soaring food prices which are coming on top of rising housing and utility costs.

She said, “People living in Putney, Roehampton and Southfields are facing immense financial pressure on every front. A 500g bag of pasta cost 50p in 2019 – it now costs 95p. Energy bills may go up by £900 in April. Mortgages are soaring. And the Government’s response is to advise people to budget better. Out of touch doesn’t cover it.

“Hard working families are feeling the pinch whilst oil and gas giants are celebrating record profits. Part of the reason for this is the Conservative Prime Minister’s weakness in not implementing a proper windfall tax. There are a raft of measures that the Government could implement to support my constituents, but they are choosing not to.”

In December 2022, food price inflation was at its highest since September 1977 when, according to ONS estimates, the rate was 17.6%. Prices for milk increased the most, rising by a staggering 46% between December 2021 and December 2022.

Analysis by Crisis and Zoopla found that in the local authority area of Wandsworth, shortfalls are costing low-income residents £1,200 annually for a one-bedroom home, £2,408 for a two-bedroom home, and £3,487 for a three-bedroom home.

Although more than one in four private renters is in receipt of benefits, only 12% of listings in Wandsworth were affordable on housing benefit, with only 666 properties available over 12 months.

Ms Anderson continued, “For those in the bottom 10% of incomes in London, the average cost of housing, utilities and food is set to cost 143.5% of household income. That is a terrifying statistic. Even families that have never struggled financially before are facing a stark year,
with lifesavings depleted to cover the cost of daily life.

“I was delighted and relieved last week that Sadiq Khan will be implementing his free school meal policy for all primary school children in London. That is the kind of support that will really make a difference. The Government must follow his lead and act. Initial steps include ending the freeze on local housing allowance and restoring it so that it covers the cheapest third of rents in an area. They must also rule out any increase in the Government’s energy price cap from April.”

Fleur Anderson MP was debating the use of foodbanks with Lee Anderson MP this week, who has recently made news after alleging that families “abuse” foodbanks and use them for their weekly shop, claiming that “poor families were more resourceful in the past”. The comments sparked outrage from food poverty campaigners.

Sarah Chapman, Wandsworth Food Bank said, "Every day across Wandsworth borough, our Foodbank is supporting people referred in hardship because their income simply doesn't cover the cost of essentials. Disability, ill-health and caring responsibilities mean many cannot work, and are trying to survive on basic Universal Credit payment of just £78 a week. It's no surprise to us that 90% of low-income households receiving Universal Credit are going without at least one essential like food, a warm home or toiletries. Rather than hearing MPs question the reality of hardship in the UK, we'd encourage them to use their power to ensure that the basic rate of Universal Credit is at least enough to afford the essentials we all need to get by."

The chancellor of the exchequer, Jeremy Hunt, has said one of his three priorities for the UK economy is to address inflationary pressures. He said the government would do this by improving the UK’s economic stability by balancing the budget while providing support to the economy in the medium term. Mr Hunt has said this included providing support to households to help with the cost-of-living crisis. The government has also said that, while food prices are set individually by businesses, it was working with food retailers and producers to support the availability of affordably priced food.