Ian Byrne MP gives powerful speech in Parliament about food poverty

Liverpool West Derby MP Ian Byrne has given a powerful speech today in Parliament during an Opposition Day debate on the Cost of Living and Food Insecurity.

In a passionate and hard-hitting speech, the MP, who is currently leading the campaign to have the Right To Food enshrined in UK law, called out the Government for its long-term austerity programme and said that the buck stops firmly with the Government in regards to food poverty.

He said: “Inequality, malnutrition, obesity. Poverty destroys the life chances of future generations in our poorest communities. It affects childrens’ educational attainment and life chances. Less measurable but no less important, is the effect on individual human dignity and social cohesion over time in our polarised nations of food banks next to investment banks. How can we accept in this House that we have more Foodbanks than McDonalds’?”

Mr Byrne said he believes that “hunger is a political choice” and he called on Chancellor Rishi Sunak - the richest man in Parliament - to make the right choice ahead of his Spring Statmetent due in March 2022.

You can watch the speech by Ian Byrne MP in full below.