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Esther Mcvey has ignored invitations to a Liverpool community centre which has been giving free school uniforms to thousands of desperate families all summer.

The Tory welfare boss - who recently launched a £200,000 study to see if austerity was making people suffer - has not replied to two letters inviting her to see what goes on at the L6 Community Centre in Walton.

The centre, which is run by Labour councillor Gerard Woodhouse, has been helping hard-hit parents meet the rising cost of school uniforms by giving out brand new shirts, jumpers, coats, shoes, skirts and trousers for free.

Cllr Woodhouse said he did not invite Ms McVey for political reasons, but so that she could see the impact austerity was having on families across Merseyside and see what his centre was doing to help them.

But the former Mp for Wirral West does not appear to be interested in what effects her policies are having on people in Liverpool, as she is yet to have made an appearance at the centre, or respond to the letters at all.

Cllr Woodhouse said:"I wrote to Esther Mcvey twice and she hasn't had the dignity to respond.

"We told her it's not political and there won't be all kinds of people here. We just wanted her to speak to a few people and see what we are doing that makes a difference, maybe so that way the government could give us some funding, or take some lessons from what we are doing here and roll it out across the country.

"The DWP send a lot of people they can't help to us. People whose benefits have been sanctioned for stupid reasons or people who are on zero hour contracts.

(Image: Liverpoool Echo)

"But she's not even sent a courtesy reply from her junior ministerial officer or a secretary or anything.

"It really upsets me. I thought she would at least send one of her ministers to see what we are doing. I think all this just goes over her head.

"We wanted to show her what we are doing and how we are making a difference."

The L6 centre also runs a food bank, a laundrette, family support services and community lunches for older people.

Cllr Woodhouse said that they'd had a busier year than ever this summer, with poverty levels "worse than they were under Thatcher."

He said: "We're seeing a massive rise of in-work poverty. Most of the parents needing our help are on zero-hour contracts and don't know how much they'll get each month.

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"People don't always realise what goes on behind closed doors, but we see it first hand. People are going without gas, electricity, hot water and meals.

"A lot of people have drug and alcohol issues. But we don't take that out on their children. We support them and we'll support their families.

(Image: Liverpoool Echo)

"We also helping victims of domestic violence. Today one woman turned up with a black eye and scratches on her face because she was beat up last night.

"The stories we hear are heart breaking. I was born in the 60s and I've never seen poverty like this. It's worse than it was under Thatcher. "

The L6 Centre has given out more than 2000 free school uniforms to families, housing associations and social workers this summer, and hope to give out a further 1000 uniform supplies over the course of the week.

(Image: Liverpool Echo)

One parent, 34-year-old Stella Asandoaie, said that receiving free school uniforms for her three young children has saved her hundreds of pounds and means she can now afford to buy a cooker, which she has been living without for six months.

Cllr Woodhouse said parents across Merseyside can apply for uniform supplies by emailing L6centre@aol.com or by calling into the centre on 99 Queens Rd Liverpool L6 2N

The ECHO has attempted to contact Ms McVey for a response.