Food bank chief hits back at criticism after closing doors at Queen's funeral

Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng is under pressure to announce more help for the poorest families when he presents his emergency mini-budget on Friday.

The Cabinet Minister is expected to present details of the Energy Price Guarantee, which means the average household gas and electricity bill should not exceed £2,500.

But anti-poverty campaigners want him to go further and step up his support for those most in need.

Britain's largest food bank network, the Trussell Trust, has seen a 30% rise in demand - and has urged Mr Kwarteng to reinstate the £20-a-week Universal Credit hike that has helped families through the coronavirus pandemic. The temporary increase was removed last October.

Calling for it to be reinstated, chief executive Emma Revie told the Mirror: 'Our social security system is supposed to hold us back when we can't work... The government needs to bring this to a level that holds people back because of misery."

It came as Ms Revie hit back at criticism of the charity for closing for the Queen's funeral.

Some outlets, including in Stoke-on-Trent, Bristol, Liverpool, Stockport, Sunderland and County Durham, remained closed on the bank holiday, sparking a backlash.

The coffin is placed near the altar during the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II (

Picture:

POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

But speaking to the Mirror, Ms Revie said: "Our food banks are independent charities run by small teams of staff and volunteers rooted in their own communities, who know what is best for them. their communities.

"Food banks almost always close on public holidays, and the main reason for this is that we work on a referral basis, so agencies - local authorities, Citizens Advice - refer people to us.

"On public holidays, these sponsorship agencies are invariably closed."

She added, "I feel deeply for our amazing volunteers and staff.

"I fully recognize that many people are very passionate about the issue of the needs of food banks, but express their anger at food banks that are run by small teams of staff and volunteers who, over the course of for the past two years and long before, have worked tirelessly supporting their local community just feels misguided.