I HAVE noticed an extra foodbank at Farmhill has just opened.

On first becoming Prime Minister, Theresa May highlighted the precarious existence of those people who are ‘just about managing’.

They are often only a pay/benefit cheque away from disaster.

Yet her government compounds these problems with a continuation of austerity which keeps wages low and continually cuts the safety net for unemployed, sick and disabled people.

Foodbanks are a community response to the inability of people to meet their most basic need – to eat.

A while ago, Theresa May herself described the Conservatives as the ‘nasty’ party.

Since their coming to power we have seen a dramatic rise in child and adult poverty, which had been reduced under Labour.

Some girls are unable to attend school during their period because of insufficient money for sanitary protection.

Foodbanks have sprung up all over the country to meet the need.

The film I, Daniel Blake depicted a cruel and heartless benefit system, devised by the Conservatives, which keeps people waiting weeks before they receive benefit.

It takes away their benefits through sanctions, for often trivial and unreasonable reasons; and declares fit for work people who have been certified ill (including those terminally ill) by their GPs and hospital doctors – government figures show nearly 90 people a month die soon after having their benefit denied – coincidence or what?

Government slogans pit people against people.

Now after a flurry of TV programmes, which continued the Government’s demonisation of claimants, TV programmes are beginning to reflect the reality of those seeking benefits.

Amongst them is EastEnders.

This is currently showing the story of an unemployed woman, Denise Fox.

She has always worked hard to support herself, and is now experiencing for the first time the benefits system and its demoralising effect on claimants.

She is hungry, she does not have enough to buy food, pay bills or fares to attend her GCSE class, now the local community centre has closed.

Her cupboard is bare.

She continues to study and seek work, to try to improve her situation.

She is part of a community that cares for each other, yet feels the need to conceal the fact that she does not have enough to eat because she is ashamed.

Yes this is fiction, as was the I Daniel Blake film but it mirrors the experience of individuals and families up and down the country as Citizens Advice and MPs caseloads can testify.

Our MP, Neil Carmichael, has supported all the cruel and callous Coalition and Conservative policies which have increased poverty and insecurity for millions of people.

If you vote for anyone other than the Labour candidate, David Drew, in the Stroud constituency election, you are effectively endorsing the Conservatives and their harmful policies.

Their interest is in fox hunting, charging the elderly for their care, providing lucrative NHS contracts to tax dodging private companies, cutting benefits to the poorest, underfunding children’s centres, schools, the NHS and other public services that make us a civilised society.

Austerity cannot be justified – it has failed all except the very rich, who have become even richer.

For the many not the few, is the type of society I want for me, my children, grandchildren, neighbours and friends.

Christine Stockwell

Whiteshill