Putting poverty on the agenda of the General Election Campaign

In total, 7444 email conversations were started with candidates standing at the election through Christians Against Poverty, The Big Issue and Let’s End Poverty. You can see a map of where action was taken here.

We started to hear back from candidates in response. We’ve seen that lots of people who were standing for election care about poverty, and want to take action to end it. Here’s what some of them said:

“The degree of poverty in the UK is shameful for such a wealthy country and should never have been allowed to happen… I believe the next government will fail in its duty if it does not eradicate poverty from our society.”

“I completely agree with you that poverty is stealing dignity and hope for millions of people across the UK”

“In reality these are just short term sticking plasters that highlight the need for urgent discussions at the top level and action to be taken. I intend to be part of that change and am committed to having a fairer society.”

“If elected I can assure you that I will convert these easy to write words into strong and significant action against poverty both in this city and at Westminster.”

“I firmly believe that those with lived experience of poverty hold essential insights that must guide our policies and actions.”

“If I am re-elected I fully intend to continue to bang the drum for policies that don’t just end poverty but prevent it”

People also asked questions at hustings events across the UK, making sure that ending poverty was on the agenda of all candidates standing in the constituency.

Lots of people used the top-tips door hanger we created to ask candidates and campaigners about their plans to tackle poverty on the doorstep.

During the campaign, we also gathered together online to hear from people on the frontline of poverty. At our online events, over 150 of you gathered to hear from Ashleigh, Saf, Glory, Tyra, Liz, Ian, Chris, Stef, Gareth, Helen, Barbara, Charlotte, Paul and Kaydence. Together, we explored what people struggling against poverty every day need our next government to prioritise, and made sure that lived experience is at the heart of our action as a movement.

Lots of movement members took different action in creative ways, to make sure that poverty was on the agenda. Here are just a few stories from across the network:

Beulah Support and Outreach run a community café and doorstep visits, welcoming individuals with mental health problems, dealing with loneliness and isolation, poverty and lack of self worth and confidence. They work to support one another with a ‘yes we, and you can attitude’. Last week, they decided to write personal letters to 78 candidates sharing facts about poverty, personal experience and knowledge from the community. Alan said “we hope this will give additional food for thought in the days leading up to the election and after.”

In Camden, Camden Town Methodist Church hosted the Dreams & Realities Exhibition. The launch event saw the local Mayor, Camden and Islington NHS Choir and members of ATD Fourth World gather together to share stories, expertise and calls for change. Stephen, the artist of the Dreams & Realities Exhibition said: ““It feels like a dream come true, but it also feels so surreal that the exhibition is actually in Camden, especially during the General Election period. We need to make poverty a key issue during the election – that’s the most important thing, to get it over to the voters and politicians, that poverty needs to be high on the agenda. It’s people lives we’re dealing with, their lives and their circumstances and their extreme need to survive and get by on the little they have.”

In Huddersfield, the Huddersfield Methodist Circuit Craftivism Group displayed their interactive ‘Webs of Poverty’ display at Hustings across the area. The project sees to explore and challenge poverty in its broadest sense – through conversation, sharing information, learning from those with lived experience, inviting personal responses and crafting. They said “The aim is to create an interactive exhibition which can be shared within the wider community, encouraging participation from people of all different backgrounds to join the campaign to end poverty.”

Banners calling for an end to poverty wherever it exists have also been hosted outside churches and community spaces across the UK.

We’ve also been listening to Neighbourhood Voices from across the UK. Church Action on Poverty have travelled to Stoke, Halifax, Camden, Sheffield, Epsom and Wythenshawe to meet with and listen to communities about what they want the next government to hear. They’ve heard about poverty, racism, health crises, dwindling opportunities for young people, food insecurity, hard-to-reach politicians, the failing benefit system, social services and much more. They’ve also heard incredible stories of community ingenuity, love and kindness, and the power of art and creativity.

Click here to catch up on what they shared.

Finally, many of the organisations and groups who support Let’s End Poverty joined with 200+ organisations to raise their voices, and call on the two leading candidates to be Prime Minister to make tackling poverty a priority from day one. Click here to read what they had to say.