Unite photo opportunity and press release

What: ‘Unite For A Workers Economy’ protest at the office of Conservative MP Mark Jenkinson

When: Saturday 28 January 12-1pm

Where: 104 Senhouse Street, Maryport CA15 6BS

Protestors use local MP’s birthday to highlight food poverty in Workington

16,337 people are living with food insecurity in Workington, Cumbria.

Highlighting shocking levels of food insecurity, fuel poverty and debt in Workington, campaigners will stage a protest on local MP Mark Jenkinson’s birthday.

Protesters will brandish the slogan: Don’t let him have his cake and eat it, demand your fair share’ outside his constituency office.

Research carried out by leading polling company Survation for Unite has revealed the shocking extent of food poverty and debt in Workington.

  • 17 per cent of residents in Workington – 16,337 people – are living with food insecurity.

 

  • 21,142 (22 per cent) of residents in Workington have either gone into debt or increased their levels of debt in order to meet the increased cost of grocery items.

 

  • One in 10 Workington residents – 9,610 people – are not able to pay their household bills this year.

Meanwhile, Mark Jenkinson MP voted for rising prices, lower benefits, and higher taxes particularly for low and middle income workers. He also voted against the proper funding of public services and against action to tackle corporate tax avoidance.

Unite senior organiser Joe Rollin said: “Amid unacceptable levels of hardship and debt across Workington, Mark Jenkinson consistently fails his constituents by voting against their interests in Parliament. The level of food poverty in Workington is scandalous. Mark Jenkinson should be mortified for allowing hunger on this scale to grip the community on his watch. 

“We have a birthday message for the MP for Workington - the community are taking matters into their own hands. Unite intends to build power in our workplaces and simultaneously organise in our communities. Unite has established permanent bases on the ground in Workington to work with workers within their communities to deliver an economy that works for them.”

From workplace to community Unite is driving a UK-wide strategy to help bring change to ‘heartland’ communities following the failure of politicians to act. ‘Unite for a Workers' Economy’ has begun with a major national campaign across key battle-ground seats up and down the UK, including Glasgow, Grimsby, Hull, Leigh, Barrow, Workington, Morecombe and Crawley.

ENDS

Notes to editors:The Survation study’s use of MRP analysis allows us to accurately translate survey responses into robust estimates of the number of residents affected by cost of living pressures.  

 

Constituency: Workington

 

 

In the past month, have you or anyone else in your household had smaller meals than usual or skipped meals / been hungry but not eaten /not eaten for a whole day because you couldn't afford food?

17 per cent of residents in Workington are living in food poverty.

Which of the following best describes the situation you/your family are experiencing currently in relation to increases in household bills?

10 per cent of residents in Workington are not able to pay their household bills this year.

In order to meet the increased cost of grocery items for you or your family, have you gone into debt or increased the level of your debts?

 

22 per cent residents in Workington have either gone into debt or increased their levels of debt in order to meet the increased cost of grocery items.


For more information please contact Ciaran Naidoo on 07768 931 315 

Email: Ci[email protected]

Twitter: @unitetheunion Facebook: unitetheunion1 Web: unitetheunion.org