THE foodbank in Worcester has warned the government's plans to scrap a Universal Credit boost will hit the poorest in society.

Grahame Lucas, manager of Worcester Foodbank, spoke out amid government plans to get rid of the £20 uplift, brought in to help people during the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Lucas warned the move would "plunge people into crisis" and called for a re-think.

He said: "Removing the £20 uplift risks plunging more people into crisis at a time when we are already witnessing record levels of hunger in our city.

"For some families taking this money from them will be the difference between them being able to eat or heat their home.

"Our ambition is to end the need for foodbanks like ours by ensuring everyone has enough income to afford the basics and retaining the uplift is one measure that can help us achieve this.

"We hope the Government will think again and not cut struggling households adrift by removing this lifeline as we emerge from the pandemic."

Mr Lucas said the demand for emergency food remains high, with the foodbank feeding 752 people in June.

This is 28 per cent higher than the same month last year.

Overall, referrals are up 10 per cent compared to the first six months of 2020, the foodbank's busiest year, and 28 per cent higher in the last two months.

Mr Lucas added low income is the main cause for referral.

The foodbank has updated its shopping list of essential items, which can be found via its website https://worcester.foodbank.org.uk/

The foodbank is also holding three days of supermarket collections between July 15 and 17 at the Tesco stores in Warndon and St Peter's.

Six former Conservative work and pension secretaries have spoken with “one voice” to urge the Chancellor to make permanent the pandemic-inspired £20-a-week uplift to Universal Credit.

Former Tory leader and instigator of Universal Credit (UC) Sir Iain Duncan Smith, along with five of his successors – Stephen Crabb, Damian Green, David Gauke, Esther McVey and Amber Rudd – have penned a letter in a bid to persuade Rishi Sunak to stick with the £5 billion benefits investment even after coronavirus restrictions have been eased.

The extra cash for benefit claimants was brought in as an emergency spending measure during the Covid crisis but is due to expire on October 1, having already been extended for six months at the March Budget.