Norwich South's Labour MP has admitted it would take more than one term for a government to "end the need for foodbanks", amid soaring demand across the Fine City.
Last month, The Trussell Trust criticised Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer for failing to outline a plan to help tackle hunger and poverty in the UK ahead of next year's election.
Mr Starmer said in 2019 that "under a Labour government, food banks [would] no longer [be] needed" but has remained relatively tight-lipped since his party took a healthy lead in the polls.
"All Labour governments have significantly reduced poverty," said Norwich South MP Clive Lewis.
"Some of the party's pledges for the next general election will help to do this.
"But there needs to be a long-term system change that any government would struggle to make in the first five years.
"I will continue as a local MP to push for this change."
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Prime minister Rishi Sunak has also faced mounting pressure to do more to reduce poverty in the UK - with the former chancellor vowing he would take steps to end the reliance on foodbanks during last year's Tory leadership contest - which he lost to Liz Truss.
"The government has focused on helping people into work, which is absolutely right," said Conservative MP for Norwich North, Chloe Smith.
"There are a million vacancies nationally, meaning many hundreds of good jobs available in Norwich.
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"The government has raised the national living wage by the largest amount ever which is a pay rise of over £1,600 to a full-time worker in our city.
“The government has also continued to use taxpayers’ money to provide unprecedented amounts of support for the cost of living.
“I am always grateful to volunteers for the help they give in our community.”
Foodbank's big boost
Overstretched services in Norwich have been pushed to the brink in recent months - with the cost of living crisis forcing a shortage of both supplies and donations.
"People are coming in hungry and have nowhere to get help," said Julie Brociek-Coulton, a Labour councillor who runs the foodbank in Silver Road.
"Our numbers have increased so much we have had to start an appointment scheme.
"I’d love to see an end to the need for foodbanks.
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"But they will be with us for quite a while yet.
"I hope funding will be there to help our families in the future."
The service in Silver Road has just received a £15,000 grant from Norwich Consolidated Charities, alongside an additional £989 from the city council, to help keep it going.
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