Our response to the King’s Speech

This is a big set-piece full of pomp and ceremony. It isn’t always the most riveting TV. But this King’s Speech set out some vital steps towards a future where everyone can afford the essentials.

The two main positives were strengthening workers’ rights and renters’ rights.

Strengthening workers’ rights

We know one in five people referred to food banks in our network are in work. Insecure, low-paid and inflexible work traps people in hardship. So we’re pleased to see one of the Trussell Trust’s manifesto asks being brought forward. New rights to regular working hours (tackling zero hours contracts), improving sick pay and parental leave provision, better protection from unfair dismissal, ensuring protection is available from day one, and backing this with a new single body for enforcement – these are all steps which should mean work provides better protection from hardship.

Improving renters’ rights

Likewise, the reintroduction of legislation protecting private renters – without subsequent watering down – is a relief. One in three people referred to the Trussell Trust’s community of food banks are either homeless at the point of referral or had experienced homelessness in the past year. One in ten were evicted in the last year. People need safe, secure and affordable homes to move out of hardship; the state of the private rented sector has been pushing people deeper into poverty for too long.

Steps towards devolution

Plans for devolution are also positive. At the Trussell Trust, working with food banks across the UK, we know the benefits of bringing together learning from across the nations and regions in the UK. And we can see the impact of differences in policy and service delivery, particularly in areas like local crisis support. Proposals to harness that knowledge are welcome.

Improved local services

We’ve also been calling for a much stronger community voice in the design and delivery of our local services. We know people in hardship are often pushed from pillar to post before they can get help. And we know that poorly designed services and spaces can leave people socially, digitally and physically excluded. Building back community networks is an often overlooked part of protecting our communities from hunger and hardship. Encouraging more local decision-making and a new community ‘right to buy’ is a positive start.

We’ll of course need to see the final form of legislation. We want to know that the new single enforcement body will have the funding and powers it needs to have teeth to support workers. We want to see Skills England and localised employment support consider how it will tailor support to people facing significant barriers to work – particularly sick and disabled people and people with caring responsibilities. And we’ll want to make sure new renters’ rights legislation doesn’t introduce new grounds for eviction, allowing ‘no fault’ evictions through the back door.

Ending the need for emergency food

Finally, we know the biggest and most immediate driver of hunger and hardship that food banks see is our social security system. From the UK Government’s manifesto, it was clear this wasn’t on the agenda for immediate legislative change. But the UK Government has pledged to end the need for emergency food. This must involve improvements to make our social security system fit for the 21st century, and ensure it fulfils its most basic function in ensuring we can at least afford the essentials.

Most importantly, we know change is needed now. While it may not have been for the King’s Speech, the UK Government’s first Budget is a time for urgent action to protect people’s incomes. At the last count, the Trussell Trust’s community of food banks provided 3.1 million food parcels across the UK in a single year. The Household Support Fund, which helps councils provide local crisis support ends in September. Winter awaits. Meanwhile, the public expect change and are likely to grow weary of announcements that feel remote from their daily lives.

We know there are fiscal constraints. But there are relatively low-cost steps that would make a real difference to people’s lives and ease the burden on our other creaking public services like health and education. Extending the Household Support Fund, blunting the impact of deductions from benefits and the benefit cap through a protected minimum floor in Universal Credit, and extending financial support for private renters are three simple, targeted and effective measures to help people keep their head above water.

The UK Government says it stands for change. Let the people see it.