Food insecurity is becoming an emerging issue in the United Kingdom, as polling data released by the Trades Union Congress reveals that 1 in 7 people in the country are skipping meals or going without food. 

Over half of British people are cutting down on heating, water and electricity consumption, according to recent data from an MRP poll by Opinium. In addition, 1 in 12 Brits have missed a household bill payment. 

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Inflation has risen to 10% in the country, with the Consumer Prices Index increasing to 10.1% on an annual basis, up from 9.9% in August, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Birmingham Ladywood has the highest number of people going without food: 29%. Dundee West has 27%, whereas Glasgow has 24%, and Rhondda mustered 24%. 

What is most interesting about this is that the proportion of people skipping meals across the UK is the same as those in and out of work, at 14%. In addition, 44% reported that they are cutting back on food spending. 

According to new data, millions of #Britons are forced now to skip meals as a result of the ongoing #economiccrisis, with some families going through a whole day without eating a meal.#UnitedKingdom pic.twitter.com/4csjBhaMoU

— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 19, 2022

The poll's findings regarding the cost of living are a "stark reminder" of what many British households are dealing with today, calling for the government to work on benefits and pensions which counter the inflation's aggression, in addition to increasing wages in the public and the private sector.

The poll, furthermore, reveals that almost 7 out of 10 people in the UK are in support of raising the minimum wage to £15/hr. 

Britain's cost of living emergency

Frances O’Grady, the TUC general secretary, said: “This polling lays bare Britain’s cost of living emergency. Food and energy bills are soaring, but real wages are plummeting.

“Unless we get pay rising across the economy – and ensure benefits rise in line with inflation – we risk heading towards Victorian levels of poverty.

“The Conservatives should be working with unions to help households get through this crisis. But they want to make it harder for working people to win better pay and conditions.”

A government spokesperson said: “The government is determined to make work pay and in April we increased the national living wage to £9.50, the largest ever increase since its introduction in 2016.

“We know the pressures people are facing with rising costs, which is why we are supporting people with their bills including vulnerable households receiving £1,200 in direct payments, on top of the energy price guarantee.”

By the end of 2022, the Bank of England (BoE) predicts to enter a long recession for at least a year's time. Currently, Britons are faced with staggeringly high costs of living as they overcome the worst inflation they have witnessed in decades. 

Read next: UK likely heading towards a year-long recession