The Trussell Trust, Church Action on Poverty and leaders from 13 other charities have written to Theresa May calling for the creation of a “hardship fund” for those who could be worst hit by Britain leaving the EU without a deal.
They claim that children, the elderly, hospital patients and low-income families could all be affected.
The letter adds: “The UN has estimated that 8.4 million people in the UK (half of them children) experience household food insecurity – missing meals or unable to afford adequate food.
“Food price inflation caused by a no-deal Brexit is likely to affect these people, and the services providing food to support them, disproportionately.”
Bank of England governor Mark Carney (below) warned MPs in December that food prices could surge by up to ten per cent if the UK crashes out of the EU.
Its feared services that feed millions of people every day, such as meals on wheels and free school dinners, as well as supplies to food banks, homeless hostels and refuges, could all be hit by the predicted spikes in food prices.
The charities are calling for Mrs May to come up with “detailed plans” to help the people most vulnerable to food disruption, and to work with local authorities and frontline charities to mitigate the potential risks to food supply and prices.
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