London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Sunday, Jul 13, 2025

Sadiq Khan ‘never known it so bad’ in London as food poverty soars

Sadiq Khan ‘never known it so bad’ in London as food poverty soars

Sadiq Khan has said he has “never known it so bad” in London after new figures revealed that the cost of living crisis is pushing food banks to breaking point.
The figures from anti-poverty charity The Trussell Trust revealed that more than 1.3 million emergency food parcels had been delivered across the UK to those facing hardship between April 1 and September 30, 2022 – an increase of more than 50 per cent compared to the same period in 2019.

In London alone, there were 163,524 emergency food parcels delivered in that period – more than any other region of the UK.

Speaking to Times Radio on Thursday, the Mayor of London said some Londoners are “working more than one job” and still relying on food banks in order to feed themselves and their families.

Mr Khan said: “I’ve lived in London my entire life; including the 80s during Thatcher’s reign and the recession. I’ve never known it so bad. If we were speaking ten years ago, we’d be speaking about people who were out of work who required food banks, those in low paid jobs required food banks, now you’ve got nurses, you’ve got teachers, you’ve got firefighters, who are having to have more than one job, and rely on food banks.

“I speak to pensioners who are genuinely choosing between heating and eating. I speak to parents who are skipping meals themselves so their kids can eat. And I worry many families only just keep their head above the water and if rents go up, they could be made homeless, if interest rates go up, and they’re lucky enough to have a mortgage, they could be facing homelessness.”

The Trussell Trust has warned that, for the first time, demand for emergency food is outstripping the number of donations as the soaring costs of living is driving more people to food banks.

Of the 1.3 million emergency food parcels distributed across the UK between April and September, almost half a million were for children.

Emma Revie, chief executive of The Trussell Trust, has warned that “this winter will be the toughest yet for food banks and the people they support” and that “this is not right”.

She said: “We know that with the right support and a stable and sufficient income, people don’t need to turn to food banks for support. Over the last few years, the government has acted to protect people who are struggling, and this action has made a difference. They must now act again: with swift support now to help people through the winter, and with vision for the longer-term to ensure that social security is always enough to weather challenging times.”

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt will unveil the Government’s autumn Budget next week, which was pushed back from its original date of October 31.

The Chancellor is expected to outline a range of measures to plug the £60 billion “black hole” in the country’s finances when he addresses Parliament on November 17.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Renault Shares Drop as CEO Luca de Meo Announces Departure Amid Reports of Move to Kering
Senior Aides for King Charles and Prince Harry Hold Secret Peace Summit
Anti‑Semitism ‘Normalised’ in Middle‑Class Britain, Says Commission Co‑Chair
King Charles Meets David Beckham at Chelsea Flower Show
If the Department is Really About Justice: Ghislaine Maxwell Should Be Freed Now
NYC Candidate Zohran Mamdani’s ‘Antifada’ Remarks Spark National Debate on Political Language and Economic Policy
President Trump Visits Flood-Ravaged Texas, Praises Community Strength and First Responders
From Mystery to Meltdown, Crisis Within the Trump Administration: Epstein Files Ignite A Deepening Rift at the Highest Levels of Government Reveals Chaos, Leaks, and Growing MAGA Backlash
Trump Slams Putin Over War Death Toll, Teases Major Russia Announcement
Reparations argument crushed
Rainmaker CEO Says Cloud Seeding Paused Before Deadly Texas Floods
A 92-year-old woman, who felt she doesn't belong in a nursing home, escaped the death-camp by climbing a gate nearly 8 ft tall
French Journalist Acquitted in Controversial Case Involving Brigitte Macron
Elon Musk’s xAI Targets $200 Billion Valuation in New Fundraising Round
Kraft Heinz Considers Splitting Off Grocery Division Amid Strategic Review
Trump Proposes Supplying Arms to Ukraine Through NATO Allies
EU Proposes New Tax on Large Companies to Boost Budget
Trump Imposes 35% Tariffs on Canadian Imports Amid Trade Tensions
Junior Doctors in the UK Prepare for Five-Day Strike Over Pay Disputes
US Opens First Rare Earth Mine in Over 70 Years in Wyoming
Kurdistan Workers Party Takes Symbolic Step Towards Peace in Northern Iraq
Bitcoin Reaches New Milestone of $116,000
Biden’s Doctor Pleads the Fifth to Avoid Self-Incrimination on President’s Medical Fitness
Grok Chatbot Faces International Backlash for Antisemitic Content
Severe Heatwave Claims 2,300 Lives Across Europe
NVIDIA Achieves Historic Milestone as First Company Valued at $4 Trillion
Declining Beer Consumption Signals Cultural Shift in Germany
Linda Yaccarino Steps Down as CEO of X After Two Years
US Imposes New Tariffs on Brazilian Exports Amid Political Tensions
Azerbaijan and Armenia are on the brink of a historic peace deal.
Emails Leaked: How Passenger Luggage Became a Side Income for Airport Workers
Polish MEP: “Dear Leftists - China is laughing at you, Russia is laughing, India is laughing”
BRICS Expands Membership with Indonesia and Ten New Partner Countries
Weinstein Victim’s Lawyer Says MeToo Movement Still Strong
U.S. Enacts Sweeping Tax and Spending Legislation Amid Trade Policy Shifts
Football Mourns as Diogo Jota and Brother André Silva Laid to Rest in Portugal
Labour Expected to Withdraw Support for Special Needs Funding Model
Leaked Audio Reveals Tory Aide Defending DEI Record
Elon Musk Founds a Party Following a Poll on X: "You Wanted It – You Got It!"
London Stock Exchange Faces Historic Low in Initial Public Offerings
A new online platform has emerged in the United Kingdom, specifically targeting Muslim men seeking virgin brides
Trump Celebrates Independence Day with B-2 Flyover and Signs Controversial Legislation
Boris Johnson Urges Conservatives to Ignore Farage
SNP Ordered to Update Single-Sex Space Guidance Within Days
Starmer Set to Reject Calls for Wealth Taxes
Stolen Century-Old Rolls-Royce Recovered After Hotel Theft
Macron Presses Starmer to Recognise Palestinian State
Labour Delayed Palestine Action Ban Over Riot Concerns
Swinney’s Tax Comments ‘Offensive to Scots’, Say Tories
High Street Retailers to Enforce Bans on Serial Shoplifters
×