The number of people relying on emergency food aid from North Paddington Foodbank jumped from 208 in one week in February to 1,296 a week in May. As other voluntary organisations were also feeding people during the total lockdown period, it is clear that this is a massive problem which is unlikely to go away soon.

The Evening Standard has reported that one in ten families have gone short of food already since the start of the Covid-19 crisis.

Karen Buck MP said

“I joined the North Paddington Foodbank with the Faiths United group last week, to acknowledge the generous donation of PPE being made by supporters from the Muslim and Jewish communities.

It is disgraceful that the government has stated that vouchers will not be provided during the summer holiday period for children on free school meals, for example. We will be pushing this issue in Parliament, since whilst it is completely right that we are supporting businesses and helping to protect jobs during this crisis, we cannot neglect the poorest in our community.”