Two million Londoners – 400,000 children – struggle to access sufficient food. A quarter of London’s pensioners live in poverty. In 2020/21 421,000 Londoners relied on charities for food. 

Londoners need the right to food. Our communities face outrageous inequalities. The richest living 10 years longer than poorest in some boroughs. Having the basic right to food goes a small way in tackling these inequalities. An opportunity is provided in imminent National Food Strategy White Paper. This must include the right to food.  

We will struggle more because of UK punitive welfare system, rising food prices, rocketing fuel bills and increases in national insurance. It’s damning on UK governments that hunger, malnutrition and destitution are endemic in 21st century. 

We need the Right To Food enshrined in UK law so we can hold government to account for food crisis during covid and ongoing. Since 1966 UK governments have signed many international agreements to support this right but still this is not legally binding. Their ongoing refusal shows their lack of concern and care for our basic rights, and lives. 

We therefore call on Mayor of London to add his voice to the Liverpool, Manchester and Sheffield and others in making London a Right To Food City. This means that Sadiq Khan:

1.      Immediately writes to government demanding the Right To Food is included in the National Food Strategy White Paper

2.      Gives his supports to the Right To Food Campaign - a national campaign which argues that the 11 million people in food poverty should be central to this strategy, includes

a.      Economic rights to enable equitable access to nutritious and culturally appropriate foods

b.      Universal Free School Meals

c.       A national network of community kitchens including community use of school kitchens

3.      That ‘Right to Food’ should be enshrined into law - clarifying government’s obligations on food poverty and introducing legal avenues to hold government bodies accountable for violations. 

Sign the petition and help us win the Right To Food in London!
(signatories must work or live in London and provide postcode)

It is critical that we all take up this fight, especially if you’re in the food and nutrition workforce - paid or unpaid - in NHS, across the public sector, in retail, hospitality, and across our diverse communities, families and ages. We care for our communities!

Please share this petition widely and get involved by contacting:  righttofoodlondon@gmail.com

Follow us on @RightToFoodLDN