Children’s food poverty is in the spotlight

Recent political decisions and inactions have again brought children’s food poverty into the limelight.

Conservative politicians seem to think that bills like the one defeated last week are just part of a game of political football, but in reality they are a lifeline to those families on the edge. As a Green Party member I am committed to a fair society that adopts a holistic approach to governance, recognising that we work in tandem with the environment and that the needs of society are actually in line with the needs of the environment. And while I recognise that other parties and people may hold different political views to my own, I find it very hard to believe that anyone wants children to go hungry. Really hungry, not just “skipped lunch because I was busy” hungry, but the pain in your stomach, can’t sleep at night hungry that children who are below the poverty line experience. Just the thought of having to send my son to bed hungry makes me feel sick – not because I’m of a particular political persuasion but because I am a mother. Wanting and needing to provide for your child is a universal feeling, not unique to any class or income bracket. Tackling child food poverty should be a flagship issue that unites parties, not an opportunity to score a goal. Council elections are next year, and I would urge people to be asking the question of their local councillor now – what are you doing to ensure children in Loughborough don’t go to sleep hungry tonight?

Faye Forde, Green Party Member, Loughborough