At least two food banks are closed today, with countless others having their headquarters transformed into polling stations

Voters have expressed outrage that various food banks are being used as polling stations today.

At least two facilities are closed because of the General Election, with people hitting out at countless venues doubling up as places to vote – claiming it ‘tells you everything you need to know’ about modern Britain.

The food bank charity the Trussell Trust says around 440 of its venues open on Thursdays, but is not certain of exactly how many are shut today to accommodate voters.

Cardiff’s Ely and Central foodbanks – both situated in churches – have been unable to open today because the buildings are being used as voting centres. One of the sessions is being rescheduled, a volunteer from the facility told Metro.co.uk.




There have also been numerous reports on social media of buildings normally used by food banks being used as polling stations for today’s election.

This ‘says it all’, according to some voters (Picture: Jaster Le Mercer)

Basingstoke foodbank (Picture: NathanielJTA)

North Paddington Food Bank (Picture: alexprestage)

Foodbanks doubling up as polling stations has been slammed as a symbol of modern Britain (Picture: marr_mite)

In the Cardiff West constituency, Labour voter Leon Ward tweeted a photo of a notice reading: ‘No foodbank session here due to the General Election.’

He added: ‘This was in my polling station.

‘Surely it tells you everything you need to know about the state of the UK in 2019.’

Various others on the social network site echoed the point, suggesting the doubling up ‘says it all’.

Pictures show various food banks being used to accommodate voters, including some around Liverpool, Huddersfield, London, Basingstoke and Elland.

Clare Beamond tweeted that it ‘says it all’ that her foodbank in Huddersfield is being used as a polling station (below) (Picture: ClareBeamond)

The entrance in Huddersfield, according to Clare (Picture: ClareBeamond)

Leon Ward was met with this sign when he went to vote in the Cardiff West constituency (Picture: LeonjWard)

In November, the Trussell Trust said it handed out nearly 1 million food parcels in the UK in a record-breaking six months. More than 300,000 of their three-day parcels were given to children.

Local councils organise facilities for people to vote at, with many schools, churches, town halls and other community venues in use.

Food banks often use such locations to both store and hand out food, leaving many to slam the symbolism of the facilities doubling up for today’s vote.

The Trussell Trust, which estimates that its network of 1,200 food banks accounts for around two thirds of the facilities in the UK, said it was looking into how many of its facilities are closed today.

Chief executive Emma Revie added: ‘We’re seeing more and more people being pushed to food banks than ever before.

To read more of our coverage of the 2019 General Election, click here.

‘This General Election, all political parties must pledge to protect people from hunger by ensuring everyone has enough money for the basics.’

She continued: ‘We want our next government to start working towards a future where no one needs a food bank by ending the five week wait for Universal Credit; ensuring benefit payments cover the cost of living; and investing in local emergency support for people in crisis.

‘Together, these three changes will put money back into the pockets of people who most need our support.

‘It’s not right that anyone has to walk through the doors of a food bank in the UK. But it’s in our power as a country to end the need for food banks – this can change.’

The electoral commission said it did not have any national statistics for which facilities were being used as polling stations.

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