Right to Food campaign
We need a #RightToFood
The UK is a very wealthy country, but millions of people rely on food banks to make sure that their children get a square meal, many in work. 11 million of our fellow citizens are living in food poverty. Every day for them is a choice between eating and heating, or eating and a warm coat for the kids. Something is very wrong.
It's time that the #RightToFood became law.
This law make the government responsible for addressing the raging income inequalities and the broken benefits system which have pushed so many into poverty. It would force the government to scrap its cruel five week wait before a claimant receives a penny of Universal Credit, a main reason why people are forced to turn to food banks.
And much as Marcus Rashford has been a hero for his work to make sure hungry children are fed during the school holidays, it really ought to be something that government has to do by law, not through public shaming. That's why Unite is supporting the campaign led by Ian Byrne MP to make the #RightToFood law.
Ian is backed in his campaign by Liverpool city council, which became the first #RightToFood city in the UK. Liverpool was followed by many other cities and towns, including Manchester, Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Liverpool Combined Authority, Rotherham, Brighton and Hove, Haringey, St Helens, Preston, Lancaster, Durham, Newcastle, Portsmouth, Totnes, Coventry, Sheffield, Birmingham.
Unite is now working with our network of councillors to get more local authorities to commit to #RightToFood status.
You can read more about Ian's campaign and the #RightToFood pledge here.
A national strategy for food
Unite supports the call for the ‘Right To Food’ to be incorporated into the government’s ‘National Food Strategy’. This is the first independent review of England’s entire food system for 75 years and it must take the opportunity to build the food system this country needs for all its people. It's set to report to the government this year. Help us make sure that tackling this country's chronic poverty is top of its agenda.
Six ways to get involved
Please get involved in the #RightToFood campaign. Showing your support is easy:
#1 Add your signature to our #RightToFood campaign pledge
Please email Ian Byrne MP saying you want to add your signature to the #RightToFood campaign pledge.
#2 Sign the petition
Sign and share the petition calling on the Prime Minister to put the Right to Food into UK law. You can also download the paper petition below to take into your workplace to get colleagues to sign.
#3 Ask your MP to sign the #RightToFood petition
Please contact your MP today, using the tool box and model email below, to ask them to sign the petition.
Back the #RightToFood campaign
Ask your MP to sign the petition and make clear representation to the Prime Minister to include the Right To Food in the government’s forthcoming White Paper to be published in response to the National Food Strategy.
Ask your MP to sign the petition to the Prime Minister
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Ask your MP to sign the petition to the Prime Minister
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#4 Ask your local councillors to take a motion to the council
Please speak to your local councillors about using the model motion below to get your local authority to commit to #RightToFood status.
#5 Write to the National Food Strategy team
Please write to Henry Dimbleby, chair of the National Food Strategy team to ask that the team recommends the #RightToFood is made law. You can email the National Food Strategy team here.
#6 Tell everyone that you're backing the #RightToFood
Please share our graphics on all your social channels with #RightToFood
