In one of Britain’s safest Tory seats, the women of Benfleet Methodist Church were opening their first “warm bank” a day after the chancellor, Jeremy Hunt, warned that “decisions of eye-watering difficulty” lay ahead.
“This town isn’t poor but there are people who are struggling and we know there will be mothers coming this week to get supplies,” said Marie Howard, 77, gesturing towards pasta, tins and other foodstuffs stacked up in a back room.
