The rich watch on from their mansions, stuffed with food, whilst the rest of the country look on; starved of basic needs.
The UK is the hungry country. Families are hungry for food. Whilst others are starving for money. Some are famished for recognition. And I’m ravenous for revolution. Meet Britain, we’re the hungry country, in more ways than one.
Thatcherism never really escaped the bounds of this country. It’s shackled people for years. And what's happening is very very sad indeed. The words Thatcher once used to describe the poor changed and altered perception forever. Words like, "Poverty is a personality defect." And actions made caused a throttle of problems around Britain. A ripple effect made the problems of the past go into today. And having children go without food, again. Again. Families and people are being left hungry.
It's not just Thatcher, don't get that wrong. It's everyone who doesn't see past their noses. Those whose truth sits on a bed of lies surrounding class and how they don't think we have a class issue. Or people who go by each day as if things in this country are fine. The people and government of the past melted into today. And we never really had any change. Like everything, we missed the people who needed help. And now it has gone too far.
The ordinary person. We have seen an uproar. People are standing up for people who need it. Seeing as the government won’t. Children going without food. Parents who sacrifice their own meal to feed their child. A meal that’s meant to be £30, instead, it’s not even enough to last a day. Yet, claiming it’s for ten days. Half an onion, a handful of pasta and half a pepper. That’s really meant to last ten days.
It is sickening.
For the past few years we’ve seen a show on Channel 5, 'Rich House Poor House'. Exploring the wealth divide in Britain today. Where ordinary people are each given an opposing families budget for the week. The daunting look on the faces of the rich who are told £30, maybe £100 is meant to last a whole week. Shock horror. Food isn’t a luxury. It’s not even something we should question. Why are people questioning life? It is completely possible to ration for food. However, it shouldn’t be something people have to do. Yet, those on the poorer end of the financial ladder, they know it’s possible. But they are treated as though they don’t even matter.
As you sit in your warm house, preparing your lovely meal for the night. Remember the child who is out there not even knowing they haven’t any food. Expecting to go to the cupboard for a packet of crisps. Only to find half a fucking onion. Or someone living in a flat on their own, attempting to pay bills and buy food at the same time. People navigating their lives through an unprecedented time.
Of course, the good people of this country have taken to do the job of those above them.
All around the country we have seen a feeling of solidarity. It's very independent and small but it's there. One can hope. Commitment to doing what’s right. The only thing that leaves me wondering, why it has to be done. It makes me disgusted to see people trying to pull at whatever they can to help others. Because the people in charge of making something happen are, as per, leaving the country hungry. It’s a hunger that we all experience. From children without meals, to businesses struggling to make ends meet. Families who have to take extra jobs to pay the bills. Freelancers and university students who have been left hanging for help.
This isn’t new though. If people think this is something which happened because of Covid, they are wrong. This has always been a crisis. Poverty has always been something in need of addressing. Issues have been left unspoken and people have been plain ignorant by ignoring them. The days of Thatcher and before, the people on the other end of the rich ladder have gone disregarded. It’s been people in different communities who have been left to help. Not the government. Not the rich. The same people who are being discriminated are helping their friends or people they people they don’t even know.
We can’t forget about these issues once we return to ‘normality’. If and when we do escape the bounds of a pandemic, we mustn’t forget. We cannot leave the issues to one side. Simply hoping that someone will come along and do something. Don’t forget about food poverty. Or the disabled. Mental health. Businesses. Self-employed. Freelancers. Students. Carers. People who need to be noticed.
Class is a massive topic in this country. We need to address the issues that have arisen because of our class issue. People from every background needs to look at these problems. There needs to be a continuation of discussion for multiple topics. For years, voices have gone silenced. It’s the everyday person who pays for the mistakes of those in charge. It’s more than ‘mean’. It’s wrong. It’s corrupt. They have no idea about the reality of people in Britain. Yet, they are in charge.
Jack Monroe is someone I want to highlight for those unfamiliar. A British food writer, activist and journalist. Jack started writing the blog, A Girl Called Jack, sharing food recipes. Written for those on a tight budget, created as a single parent. For less than £10 a week, proving you could create delicious family meals.
Having used a foodbank, Jack understands and can relate to the same exact feelings. Since the call of help throughout socials from parents in need of food. Jack has been there. Providing as much help as possible. Making as much noise as possible to force schools go back to the voucher scheme. One that provides parents with £30 worth of vouchers to get the food they need. Having had well over 600 messages, aiming to help as many as physically possible. And after fighting. Not just for hours. But for years to help make change. The school meal voucher scheme finally came back.
We need more people like Jack. There are many around the country who are doing so many good things. The thing I want to illustrate is how long Jack has been doing this for. From using a foodbank to fighting for change and voicing the issue over eight years.
Food poverty is not new. The one thing that has made me angry is the notion that Covid 19 caused this. No. It made the issue, which was already there, like many others, rise. Increase. Visible. It erupted. People have ignored it. Pretended. We need to address these things. Make the conversation a normal one and not something we have to itch at every so often.
When will the time come where we’re not the hungry country anymore? Will we ever see the day of change?
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