£2.10 a day to spend on food

OLDHAM MP Michael Meacher has accused the government of creating an “uncivilised society”, in which people spend as little as £2.10 a day on food under the weight of welfare changes.

The amount being spent on food has fallen in the last few months. The Oldham West and Royton MP said: “People cannot be expected to live on £2.10 a day on food I have asked questions of David Cameron and told him more than 750,000 people have had benefits sanctioned and this has left them to starve.

“I am without words, is there no end to this brutality? People will be ill or faint and then they will be in no fit state to work. What is all this for? It is gratuitous cruelty.”

The number of people having no money left each week once bills have been paid is 51 per cent — up from 39 per cent in July. Around 16 per cent more money is being spent on gas and electricity.

Mr Meacher is set to lead a Parliamentary debate when MPs return in January, about the rise of absolute poverty impacting from welfare changes.