ONE of the issues that has come up again and again during my campaigning in the Richmond constituency is the rising use of food banks.

We have a couple of members who volunteer at the Northallerton food bank, and they are clear that much of the reason for the rise is benefits sanctions. This is when the government can immediately stop your benefits if you do something like miss an appointment at the job centre.

You might think this is sensible, but in a large rural constituency like this for jobless people relying on public transport the truth is these things can be outside of your control.

And what about ill-health, lack of child care or the numerous other reasons any of us might have to miss an appointment?

For many families on benefits this sanction throws them immediately onto the charity of food banks because they have no savings and no support structure around them. It cannot be right that in one of the richest parts of the country, in one of the richest counties in the world the welfare state cannot guarantee putting food on the table for everyone.

If in five years’ time we are still talking about the unfortunate success of food banks in Northallerton and Richmond then you will know that your MP and your government has failed.

Tobie Abel, Lib Dem candidate Richmond (Yorks)