Food bank usage doubles in five years in London as experts warn of 'generational poverty'

A total of 455,571 food parcels were distributed in London in the last year by the Trussell Trust foodbank network - (Martin Phelps)

More than 455,000 emergency food parcels were distributed by food banks in London in the past year — a 123 per cent increase compared to pre-Covid levels.

It comes as a London food bank manager warned the country is currently experiencing a cycle of “generational poverty”, whereby children growing up in poverty are remaining in poverty as adults, as he called for a benefit system that is “fit for purpose”.