Four pounds for an entire month. That was all Paul Taylor, 53, had been left with. He had already been skipping meals to feed his two daughters, nine and 13, but now he was faced with the impossible. Four pounds to cover all his family’s living costs for more than four weeks, including rent, gas, electricity, food and transport. Almost exactly a decade after they were first introduced by David Cameron’s coalition government, Taylor was feeling the full cruel force of benefit sanctions.
Today, arriving at Earlsfield Foodbank in south-west London, he hasn’t eaten for several days. “I’m right down there at the moment,” he says, reaching towards his feet to indicate how low he feels, “but just got to put on a brave face and not show it.” His last meal was given to him by a neighbour, who also helps him out with childcare and often lends him money for food. Taylor is not worried about himself, as long as the girls are looked after.
