By Hannah Connolly
his year marks the 75th anniversary of the roll-out of free milk in schools across the UK, introduced in the aftermath of World War II and the subsequent rationing that followed. In the wake of Covid-19, this country has seen unparalleled levels of food insecurity and the problem is only continuing to worsen.
Imagine for a moment, a classroom filled with thirty pupils, now imagine that of that thirty, nine of them live in poverty. This is not at all imaginary, this is reality in the UK in 2021. Equaling a staggering 31% - or 2.4 million - of the country’s children, struggling on a daily basis to access an adequate amount of nutritious food.
“2.4 million of this country’s children are struggling on a daily basis to access an adequate amount of nutritious food.”
There is no widely unanimous definition of food poverty - which is perhaps a problem in of itself exasperating the issue - but broadly it can be defined as “a household experiencing ‘food poverty’ means they cannot acquire adequate or sufficient quantities of food in socially acceptable ways,’' according to the UKGov website. The interchangeable term ‘food insecurity’ often describes a person or persons dependent on subsidised or free food provided by an external organisation.
The figures of food poverty grow more alarming when you look closer at different demographics. For example, a staggering near half of children (49%) from single family units live under the parameters of the widely accepted terms of food poverty. Disproportionately affecting single mothers and their children through historic, societal and economical biases such as the gender pay gap.
The figures of food poverty grow more alarming when you look closer at different demographics. For example, a staggering near half of children (49%) from single family units live under the parameters of the widely accepted terms of food poverty. Disproportionately affecting single mothers and their children through historic, societal and economical biases such as the gender pay gap.
Yet, by measure the UK is one of the richest countries in the world, with a GNI (Gross National Income) of £42,000 per person. So, how could it be that as one of the wealthiest societies in the global community, such a large proportion of its most vulnerable dependents go hungry?
“Imagine for a moment, a classroom filled with thirty pupils, now imagine that of that thirty, nine of them live in poverty. This is not at all imaginary, this is reality in the UK in 2021”
For one, wealth disparity can be seen as a huge impacting factor. Take for example London, where the wealthiest 10% of the population have a weekly spending power of £1,000, and that’s after housing costs (rent, electricity, bills, etc). Whilst the lowest tenth have an average of just £94 per week.
The richest in our society have a disposable income 10x higher than that of the lowest. This becomes particularly important when considering the geographical economics of the capital. Westminster, where last year's average ‘flat’ sale price came in at £1,369,862.00, happens to have the lowest council tax in the entire country, with a Band D classification at £782.00 per annum. Then take for example, Barking where the average house price comes in at £300,517 with a council tax cost of £1,141.71.
Prior to Covid-19, the alarm bells were rung out by local authorities who were struggling to cope with insufficient funding, leaving them operating on shoestring budgets. Routinely imploring Westminster to acknowledge the fact that the country’s social care infrastructure was, and remains, on the brink of collapse.
“There are now more than 2,000 food banks which is more than the total of McDonalds food outlets across the UK”
Prior to Covid-19, the alarm bells were rung out by local authorities who were struggling to cope with insufficient funding, leaving them operating on shoestring budgets. Routinely imploring Westminster to acknowledge the fact that the country’s social care infrastructure was, and remains, on the brink of collapse.
In the wake of the pandemic and with the growing presence of food insecurity, the reliance on food banks has skyrocketed. In fact, there are now more than 2,000 food banks which is more than the total of McDonalds food outlets across the UK.
Between 2018 and 2019 there was a record high of 1.6 million emergency food parcels given to those in need, an increase of 19%, and over half a million of the parcels went directly to children. Between 2020 and 2021, approximately 2.5 million people used a foodbank, 900,000 more than the previous year.
As the issue only continues to worsen it brings into focus the issues surrounding the UK’s welfare infrastructure as well as the ways governing bodies administer taxation on the same people whose interest it is supposed to work in favour of.
In the last week the government has announced the introduction of an extra tax to fund social care and help the NHS recover post-pandemic. Yet, the roll out, due to come into action in April of next year, has received wide criticism coming from within the Conservative Party and beyond, suggesting that it will be unfair on younger people and the lowest paid in the country. The announced changes come three years after the government, during their election manifesto, promised not to raise National Insurance.
“Take for example London, where the wealthiest 10% of the population have a weekly spending power of £1,000...whilst the lowest tenth have an average of just £94 per week”
As it stands, workers pay 12% National Insurance on earnings between £9,564 and £50,268. However, any earnings above that level are subject to increased rates of just 2%. Meaning that as your pay packet rises, National Insurance becomes a smaller and smaller percentage of your yearly earnings. Therefore the more money you have, the less you pay in taxes.
To break it down, workers pay National Insurance if they earn above £184 per week. It means that those who earn below the threshold to pay income tax are still required to make a National Insurance contribution. With the increasing difficulty of accessing the housing market, teamed with poorly paid jobs and issues with the benefits system, the country is quickly making essentials such as clothes and food impossible for vulnerable families to afford.
“Westminster, where last year's average ‘flat’ sale price came in at £1,369,862.00, happens to have the lowest council tax in the entire country”
These changes also come just a few months after the government announced changes to the Universal Credit benefit. As of January 2021 there are 6 million people, or around 10% of the UK, on Universal Credit which is a 98% increase from March of the previous year and means that changes to the system will affect countless families.
The rise in National Insurance will therefore coincide with the plans to cut £1,040 per year from the income of people currently being paid the benefit. During the height of the pandemic the government had raised the benefit by £20 per week which will end on October 6th this year. Ignoring the calls of MPs, backbenchers and wider public demands to make the rise permanent to help tackle issues such as wide spread food insecurity.
How changes to Universal Credit and National Insurance will impact the most vulnerable and worsen the UK’s food poverty epidemic.
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