Tag Archives: foodbanks

Farron: Rise in UK deaths related to hunger a “national scandal”

The Huffington Post reports a rise in the number of deaths in which hunger is a factor in the UK. It’s up from 255 in 2005 to 375 in 2014. In 2013, that figure was even higher at 392.

Tim Farron was horrified to hear this, saying:

This shouldn’t be happening in 21st century Britain and the Government’s response is hopelessly complacent.

We seem to be creating ‘Breadline Britain’ for some of the most vulnerable people in society.

People are living under greater pressure and hearing thousands of people have died, in part, due to malnutrition is a national scandal.

We wonder if there …

Posted in News | Also tagged , and | 12 Comments

Opinion: Foodbanks: Are there more hungry people than a decade ago?

There are far more foodbanks, and foodbank users, than a decade ago. Many people have assumed that if more people are using foodbanks it must mean there are more hungry people in need – more having to choose between heating and eating – than there were.

But is that true? Does the evidence support it?

If a charity opened new refuges for abused women, we wouldn’t automatically take it as proof that domestic violence was shooting up. Similarly we can’t take the increase in foodbanks in itself as evidence of increased need.

There are three possibilities:

  • more people are in need than before
  • the increase

Posted in News | Also tagged | 25 Comments
Advert

Recent Comments

  • Simon R
    @Peter: Accidents on the railway can be caused either because of failures by the infrastructure (as you say, publicly owned since 2002, or by the trains/train o...
  • David Le Grice
    I wouldn't want to tell trans people how they should feel, but if the government was fighting a crusade to prevent me from being allowed to use the toilet and a...
  • Andy Daer
    It's good to see some support for UK government action, but we have gone past the time when a total ban on arms sales would stop Israel. Only full sanctions wou...
  • John Grout
    This is a good start, but the sooner Ed corrects his statement about the Supreme Court judgement himself, the better. Hopefully he'll take the opportunity to do...
  • Peter Martin
    @ Mark, The rail network was only in private hands for the privatisation of British Rail in 1994 up until 2001. The Hatfield crash, which was blamed squarely...