End Furniture Poverty in Parliament

EFP have had a busy start to the year in Parliament; from meetings with MPs and Ministers to event launches, we have continued to make significant inroads with key political figures. This strengthens our ability to shape policy and improve the lives of people experiencing furniture poverty across the UK.

The highlights of EFPs activities include meetings with former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Housing, Communities and Local Government Angela Rayner, having a question asked by Elsie Blundell MP at MHCLG questions and our ‘Extent of Furniture Poverty’ report launch in Westminster.

During our event we were visited by over two dozen key officials, including Ministers such as Mary Creagh, Minister for Nature, the teams of Stephen Timms, Minister for Social Security and Disabilities, and Jess Phillips, Minister for Safeguarding and Violence Against Women and Girls, as well as Liberal Democrat Housing Spokesperson Gideon Amos. In addition, we also spoke directly with MPs from other parties such as newly elected Green MP Hannah Spencer and shared briefings with Shadow Health and Social Care Secretary Luke Evans MP. This has helped expand the sphere of influence of EFP, making it possible to apply pressure to the government from several angles, all with the goal of ending furniture poverty.

Over this period End Furniture Poverty also attended North West Labour Party Conference where we met with Andrew Cooper MP. This has opened several doors for our campaign as we continue to look for more avenues in government policy where we can mandate for social housing providers to offer a portion of their properties as furnished.

If you would like to meet with us to discuss how you can support our campaign to End Furniture Poverty, please email Daniel.Peake@endfurniturepoverty.org