Online searches for “food banks near me” have seen a 250% increase since March 2020, according to a Labour analysis of Google trends data.
This comes as Kantar data saw price inflation hitting a new record of 12.4% in August, adding £571 to the average annual grocery bill.
Searches for “energy bill help” has also reached its highest level in the last five years as revealed by shadow work and pensions secretary, Jonathan Ashworth at his visit to food, employment and debt support organisation, Big Help Community Group in Liverpool.
Following his visit, Ashworth said the group is “going above and beyond to help people with the cost of living crisis, even turning their headquarters into a “warm bank” to help people avoid the cost of heating this winter.”
Speaking of the current food and energy crisis, Ashworth said: “Never have so many families been forced to queue at food banks and asked for charity handouts. Energy bills have rocketed, food prices have risen and the Tories have imposed deep cuts to Universal Credit and pensions.”
He claimed families and pensioners would be “appalled that Liz Truss is prioritising tax cuts for the wealthiest while they continue to struggle to heat their homes or put food on the table.”
“Labour would deliver a fairer, greener future by freezing energy prices – and we would pay for it with a windfall tax on the profits of oil and gas giants, not by forcing ordinary taxpayers to foot the bill down the line,” Ashworth added.
This news comes as food bank referrals have more than doubled since 2019 according to Citizens Advice.
In July, the number of people referred to food banks by the advice hub reached 13,920, doubling the 2019 figure of 4,859.
