Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, has demanded the UK Tory Government “get a grip and starts dealing with food poverty” in the country.

There are 10 food pantries across the constituency supplying the surplus food from the various supermarkets in Ogmore. They sell these for between £5 and £10 per bag. The demand is so great that the volunteers cannot keep up with the need being shown.

A new challenge is now being shown. Fair Share, who coordinate the surplus food, are now running out of food. During a recent Environment, Food and Rural Affairs question time in Parliament, Mr Elmore called on the minister to act now before more people fell into food poverty.

The MP for Ogmore has recently visited many foodbanks and food pantries to see how best help can be provided. This has seen him visiting Llanharan Food Pantry and Gilfach Goch Foodbank. He has also attended meetings at Bridgend Food Bank, which is the main point for the distribution of food across Bridgend County Borough Council area.

Chris Elmore MP has also worked with Huw Irranca-Davies MS to collect Easter eggs for the foodbanks and pantries to ensure everyone can have a happy Easter. This has seen over 800 eggs being donated.

Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, said:

 “The cost-of-living crisis continues to hit hard. The UK Tory Government has been asleep at the wheel over food inflation and we are seeing first-hand in Ogmore the damage this is wielding on people’s lives.

The very fact that we have 10 food pantries in our community shows how desperate the situation is. We cannot continue like this and the UK Tory Government must get a grip and start dealing with food poverty. The minister’s recent reply to me was nothing short of shocking. He spoke of hopes and wishes that businesses will continue to donate to foodbanks and pantries.

Charity can only go so far. We need a UK Government that’s determined to bring down the price of food, increase wages and deliver the economic growth we need for decent jobs. After 13 years it’s clear that the UK Tory Government has run out of steam. Only a UK Labour Government will work hand-in-hand with our Welsh Labour Government to bring about a better Britain.”