A bunch of celebrities together with Stephen Fry, Ed Sheeran, and Liam Gallagher, have signed an open letter to politicians – to extend the essential price of Universal Credit, to carry it in keeping with the price of life’s necessities.
It comes as one in seven adults within the UK are fighting a scarcity of cash, and dealing with starvation in consequence – with anti-poverty charity, the Trussell Trust, having distributed nearly three million emergency meals parcels final yr.
And over eight in 10 low-income households (83%), who obtain Universal Credit, are going with out at the least one key necessity, similar to a heat dwelling, meals, or toiletries – regardless of many of those claimants being in work.
As a end result, the Trussell Trust has teamed up with one other anti-poverty charity, the Joseph Rowntree, to pen the open letter, addressing the £35 weekly hole between the essential price of Universal Credit, and the price of frequent necessities.
It requires political leaders to deal with the growing variety of folks dealing with poverty within the UK – and has additionally been signed by the likes of Dame Emma Thompson, Jodie Whittaker, and Liam Payne.
The letter has been issued to leaders of all political events, forward of this yr’s General Election, to name for an “Essentials Guarantee” to develop into laws. This would be sure that the essential price of Universal Credit at the least covers life’s necessities, and might by no means be pulled beneath that degree.
(Image: Chris Lacey Photography)
The letter comes after statistics confirmed {that a} meals parcel is now being issued by the Trussell Trust each eight seconds, as lots of of hundreds of individuals are compelled to show to meals banks. The community of meals banks is asking the general public to again the marketing campaign, and signal the accompanying petition.
Trussell Trust chief government, Emma Revie, stated: “We live in one of the wealthiest countries in the world, and yet people here in the UK are going without the essentials we all need to get by.
“We know that the public is deeply concerned about poverty and hunger. Research shows people overwhelmingly believe food banks should not be needed in the UK, and the vast majority say the UK government has an essential role to play in keeping people out of poverty.
“In a General Election year, it’s vital that all political parties listen to the public, and show they understand that so many people are experiencing hunger in this country, and action needs to be taken.
“The wide range of people coming together to sign the open letter reflects the nationwide consensus on this issue, and we collectively urge political leaders to do the right thing, and include an Essentials Guarantee in their manifestos later this year.”