Rishi Sunak must allow visit from UN food inspector due to increasing levels of UK poverty, 85 charities write
Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the worldSign up to our free Morning Headlines emailMore than 80 charities and civil society bodies have called on Rishi Sunak to reverse a decision to block a UK visit by the UN inspector on food poverty until after the election. Mr Sunak’s government has told the UN special rapporteur on the right to food that he cannot visit the UK until next year. Professor Michael Fakhri, who uses his role to study hunger and food insecurity in countries around the world, asked to make a formal visit to the UK more than 20 months ago. His request was denied in April by the minister for food, farming and fisheries, Sir Mark Spencer, who said a visit would not be feasible this year, denying the UN inspector the chance to conduct his research during the current parliament. Food and human rights charities and civil society organisations have now written to Mr Sunak to ask that the decision be reversed. In a letter signed by 85 groups, including Amnesty International, Just Fair, and the Food Foundation, the charities wrote: “We believe now is an opportune time for a country visit by the UN special rapporteur on the right to food due to the increasing levels of poverty, food bank use, and reports of hunger that have remained persistent for a number of years and became more pronounced during the Covid-19 pandemic and cost of living crisis”. A volunteer at Bonny Downs Community Association food club during a March visit as part of Sainsbury’s and Comic Relief’s campaign to raise awareness of food poverty in the UK More
