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Food Inflation
15 January 2026
Lead MP
Catherine West
Hornsey and Friern Barnet
Lab
Responding Minister
Dame Angela Eagle
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Word Count: 13508
Other Contributors: 14
At a Glance
Catherine West raised concerns about food inflation in Westminster Hall. A government minister responded.
Key Requests to Government:
Asks the Minister to commit to ending the need for food banks for families by the end of this Parliament and work on an essentials guarantee in the social security system.
How the Debate Unfolded
MPs spoke in turn to share their views and ask questions. Here's what each person said:
Lead Contributor
Between November 2020 and 2025, UK food prices rose by a total of 38.6%. In 2024, the Trussell Trust’s second “Hunger in the UK” report found that 14.1 million people, including 3.8 million children, lived in food-insecure households with 3,938 households likely to be facing food poverty in Haringey.
Adam Jogee
Lab
Newcastle-under-Lyme
Paid tribute to local farmers and the Newcastle-Staffs Foodbank, highlighting the importance of supporting local food production and supply chains. The Member supports 'Buy British' approach and highlights local farmers like Grey Leys farm for producing high-quality dairy products that should be bought by schools and hospitals locally.
Brian Leishman
Lab
Alloa and Grangemouth
Since 2010, austerity has impoverished communities. The cost of living crisis has led to millions struggling with heating and eating. More than 14 million people live in food-insecure households.
Catherine West
Lab
Poplar and Canning Town
Discussed how cheapflation affects low-income families more severely due to higher costs on cheaper food items. Mentioned academic studies suggesting that Brexit has added up to £6.95 billion in food costs from December 2019 to March 2023. Called for cross-departmental working to support community kitchens and proposed a publicly backed food hub or wholesale platform. She highlighted the economic improvements announced, such as GDP growth and lower borrowing costs. She also emphasised the need to reduce food bank use and advocated for an essentials guarantee in social security systems.
Angela Eagle
Lab
Wallasey
Discussed the impact of low wages and cost of living pressures on food insecurity, highlighting the need to increase national minimum wage.
Winchester
He highlighted the issue of high food prices with examples like an £8 tube of toothpaste. He urged the Government to protect British farming standards in trade deals and praised local food banks for their support.
Jim Shannon
DUP
Strangford
Member discusses the impact of food price inflation in Northern Ireland, where annual food price inflation is 5.1%, and highlights the rise in food bank use among middle-class families.
John Glen
Con
Salisbury
Discussed the impact of rising input costs on food producers, highlighting the challenge brought by policy choices and tax changes. Questioned the effectiveness of increasing national minimum wage at 6.7% with inflation around half that, suggesting it may not help employers retain staff.
John Lamont
Con
Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk
Recognises that while food prices are rising, farmers are not seeing similar increases in income from producing valuable food. He mentioned local food larders where shops and supermarkets donate food before the sell-by date, which helps reduce waste and provides low-cost or free food for those in need.
John Milne
LD
Horsham
The hon. Member for Horsham highlighted the surge in demand for food banks in his constituency, with a 56% rise in food bank use across the south-east region. He also mentioned the importance of FareShare Sussex & Surrey and Horsham District food bank's role in providing essential support and building trust within communities.
Katie Lam
Con
Weald of Kent
Discussed rising food prices due to cost of living crisis, citing three factors: demand exceeding supply, increased production costs including energy and taxes, and external factors such as money supply. Highlighted dairy farmers' regulatory hurdles. Emphasised the challenges faced by food producers due to increasing labour costs, new regulations for the dairy industry, and inflationary pressures from extended producer responsibility taxes.
Kerry McCarthy
Lab
Bristol East
Visited the Coexist Community Kitchen in Bristol East, which provides cookery classes and affordable food to the community. Echoed tribute to Frank Field for setting up Feeding Bristol, which provided tens of thousands of meals during school holidays.
Luke Charters
Lab
York Outer
The Member discusses food inflation since January 2020, linking it to Brexit's impact. He mentions the Freddo index showing a 260% increase in costs and shrinkflation in packaged goods.
Robbie Moore
Con
Keighley and Ilkley
He thanked Imogen and her team at the Salvation Army in Keighley for supporting families. He also pointed out that lower-income households spend a larger proportion of their budget on food compared to higher-income households.
Stella Creasy
Lab/Co-op
Walthamstow
Suggested that simplifying the sanitary and phytosanitary deal could help reduce costs in agrifood trade, referencing specific paperwork requirements imposed by Brexit.
Government Response
Dame Angela Eagle
The Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs
Government Response
Acknowledged the complexity of food inflation in the UK and highlighted the Labour Government's commitment to tackling cost-of-living pressures. Mentioned food poverty affecting millions, with parents skipping meals to feed their children. Paid tribute to volunteers running social supermarkets and food clubs. Addressed food insecurity by outlining government strategies including increasing the value of Healthy Start, expanding free school meals to benefit half a million more pupils, introducing holiday activities and food programme with £600 million investment, and rolling out free breakfast clubs nationally.
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About Westminster Hall Debates
Westminster Hall debates are a chance for MPs to raise important issues affecting their constituents and get a response from a government minister. Unlike Prime Minister's Questions, these debates are more in-depth and collaborative. The MP who secured the debate speaks first, other MPs can contribute, and a minister responds with the government's position.