When asked whether he would always vote in line with fellow Conservatives, I was pleased to hear that James Berry said he thought he would vote for what was “right for the people of Kingston”.

At his first cabinet meeting, the Prime Minister said that, in this Parliament, every decision, policy and programme would be initiated so that everyone in our country had the chance to make the most of their life, and so that those people who could not work would receive the support they needed at every stage of their lives.

According to a study in 2014, Kingston is one of the 20 most prosperous areas in the country.

However, it may be worth reminding both of these men about some key points regarding Kingston.

Firstly, one in eight children under 16 is living in poverty, which is linked to an increased risk of inequality of opportunity, hardship, deprivation and exclusion.

A study of child poverty in Kingston concluded that, of those households living in poverty, an increasingly greater proportion were in work, as opposed to being out of work.

One in 10 children are eligible for free school meals.

Children are classed as eligible for free school meals if they are aged five to 16 and their parents are out of work or receiving child tax credits, with an income in Kingston of no more than £16,190.

Some 3,860 people were receiving ESA and incapacity benefits, while 790 were receiving carers allowances and 810 were disabled.

In all, 2,507 vouchers (5,492 people) were referred for support through food banks in 2013-14.

These were often issued for people where there was low income and no financial safety net or remaining savings.

A report on the Kingston food bank by Love Kingston said there is no “typical” recipient.

Job loss, sickness, reduction in income or an unexpected bill can push a family into crisis, unable to buy basic food as they try and juggle energy, housing and food costs.

Some 377 homeless applicants were on the housing register at the start of the financial year 2014-15.

Of these, only 65 were given permanent housing during the year 2014-15. While the number of people with the greatest needs may be low in Kingston, it is worth remembering that they are still real people – parents, children, neighbours, friends, employees and work colleagues that we may know.

Mahatma Gandhi once said: “The true measure of any society can be found in how it treats its most vulnerable members.”

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said in a statement: “There is a continuous discussion in the UK about maximum levels of benefits and benefit caps, but an informed debate about minimum levels of income or social protection floors could help to protect vulnerable people.”

As the new Parliament starts to work through its policies, I hope that James Berry and David Cameron will maintain their pledges towards all people in Kingston, and that scrutiny of their voting records will prove it to be so.

S PACE
Tolworth