An Oldham MP has accused the government of 'keeping people skint' and says it does not have a plan to address food poverty.

Oldham West and Royton MP Jim McMahon, who is the Shadow Secretary for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, made the comments in the House of Commons on Thursday (June 23).

It comes as food prices continue to increase amid the cost of living crisis.

Speaking in the Commons, Mr McMahon said: "The government’s own food security report relies on the existence of food banks to keep the UK fed, but food banks can’t keep up today with the rocketing demand, so, far from levelling up, what we really see in reality is that our northern regions are the hardest hit with the highest levels of food insecurity.

"Isn’t it the truth that the Government’s record of low wages, low growth, record tax rises and out-of-control inflation is keeping people skint and hungry, and the Government just hasn’t got a plan to address this?"

Environment minister Victoria Prentis responded by saying: "I absolutely dispute that, we very much have a plan to continue to help people with pressures on the cost of living."

She continued by saying the issue is "very difficult and sensitive" and that the government would continue to work with the Trussell Trust, a charity that works to end the need for food banks in the United Kingdom.

Food prices are continuing to rise in the UK which has led to people becoming increasingly dependent on food banks, many of which are said to be struggling.

In Oldham, there have been cases of nurses and bus drivers being forced to go to food banks.

On Monday, June 13, the government published a strategy in response to a major review of the country’s food system by Leon restaurant co-founder Henry Dimbleby.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the strategy sets out how the Government will support farmers, boost British industry and safeguard food security.

Mr McMahon was very critical of the government's proposal.

He previously said: "This is nothing more than a statement of vague intentions, not a concrete proposal to tackle the major issues facing our country.

"To call it a food strategy is bordering on the preposterous. Yet again this tired, out of ideas Conservative government is failing to show the ambition our country needs."

He also accused the government of showing "absolutely no ambition to fix the mess they have created".