It cannot be right that in the sixth largest economy in the world, people in Brent, Harrow and beyond are in food poverty.
Marcus Rashford has captured the national mood with his campaign to extend Free School Meals to children outside of term time during the Covid-19 pandemic.
This is a cause I have been fighting for for years and I was proud to introduce a holiday food scheme in Brent in my role as Cabinet Member for Public Health in partnership with the Mayor of London.
As a result of my work in alleviating food poverty, Brent Council was recognised as the ‘Most Improved Borough’ for their progress in Good Food for London since 2016.
During the Covid-19 pandemic I volunteered for my local Mutual Aid delivering food and pharmacy goods to people and have also volunteered at the London Community Kitchen food poverty relief efforts in Harrow and in Brent.
I am proud that from City Hall we have managed to deliver universal free school meals to all primary school children in London.
I am also a Member of the Co-operative Party who as part of their main campaign calls have been fighting for food justice: calling for a Right to Food, tacking food poverty locally, and campaigning at all levels of government for change; A campaign which I proudly support.