Rishi Sunak must allow UN food inspector to visit over rising levels of poverty in UK, 85 charities write

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More than 80 charities and civil society groups have called on Rishi Sunak to reverse decision to block UN inspector's visit to UK on food poverty until after the elections.

Mr Sunak's government has told the UN special rapporteur on the right to food that he will not be able to visit the UK until next year. Professor Michael Fakhri, who uses his role to study hunger and food insecurity in countries around the world, requested to make an official visit to the UK more than 20 months ago.

His request was rejected in April by the Minister for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries, Sir Mark Spencer, who said a visit would not be possible this year, refusing the UN inspector the possibility of carrying out his research during the year. Current Parliament.

Human rights and food charities and civil society organizations have written to Mr Sunak calling for the decision to be overturned.

, including Amnesty International, Just Fair and the Food Foundation, charities wrote: “We believe this is an opportune time for a visit to the country by the UN special rapporteur on right to food due to increasing levels of poverty, reliance on food banks and reports of hunger which have remained persistent for several years and become more pronounced during the Covid-19 pandemic and the food crisis. Cost of life ".

A Bonny Downs Community Association food club volunteer during a visit in March as part of Sainsbury's and Comic Relief's campaign to raise awareness of Food Poverty in the UK (PA)

They say it is “deeply disappointing that the UK Government will not invite the Special Rapporteur this year”, adding: “We call on the UK Government to facilitate this visit to the current parliament. » /p>

A recent study by the Food Foundation found that 15 per...