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"Food bank figures show that Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, Scotland and the whole UK, needs change" - Erskine

Shocking new figures on food bank usage unveiled by the Trussell Trust shows that Scotland, and the whole UK, needs the change that will come with a UK Labour Government.

The Trussell Trust has estimated that in the last financial year 6,067 people, including 1,627 children, were forced to rely on Highland food banks.

The UK figure comes to more than 1 million people - including almost 400,000 children - for the first time.

Scottish Labour have a 5 point plan to end the need for food banks in Scotland.

Abolish the hated bedroom tax and establish a £175 million Scottish Anti-Poverty Fund.

Put decency back into the Welfare State by abolishing government targets for benefit sanctions
Make work pay by banning exploitative zero hours contracts, raising the minimum wage and extending the living wage.
Tackle rising household costs by capping energy bills and banning rip-off rent rises.
Tax the profits of the legal loan sharks and put the money into credit unions and other sources of low-cost credit.
Scottish Labour Candidate for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, John Erskine said:

"The fact that there are 6,076 people across the Highlands using food banks with over 1000 of those people being children is absolutely sickening and is the true legacy of John Thurso in Government. This is a start reminder of why we need to get rid of the uncaring government causing this misery.

"It is nothing short of a scandal that working people are forced to turn to food banks to feed their children. It's a scandal that wages aren't stretching far enough and hours aren't guaranteed. That has to change, and Labour has a plan to change it. We'll raise the minimum wage, extend the living wage and we'll ban exploitative zero hours contracts helping working people across the north.

"Labour are clear - we'll pass legislation as a priority that will guarantee a regular contract after working regular hours for 12 weeks. No ifs, no buts, no maybes. No reviews, consultations or talking shops -if we elect a Labour Government exploitative zero hours contracts are gone.

Rhoda Grant, Scottish Labour MSP for the Highlands also commented:"John Erskine will stand up for working people as the norths MP because we know that Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross succeeds when working people succeed. But food bank usage has been driven by welfare reform as well. That's why John and Scottish Labour will abolish targets for benefit sanctions and axe the hated bedroom tax. We'll use the money saved to establish a Scottish Anti-Poverty Fund worth £175 million, to help those who fall through the cracks through no fault of their own.

"The work of food bank volunteers is inspiring, but the need for food banks at all is enraging. On 7 May we can elect a government that can wage war on poverty and win. The Highlands needs an alternative to Tory austerity that tackles these problems head on. Only a vote for John Erskine and a Labour Government can do it."

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