VOTERS in the Chippenham constituency should be asking their election candidates what their answers are to social issues which mean people need to rely on Foodbanks to feed their families, says a support worker who has heard dozens of tales of tragedy in the last three years.

The call for wannabe MPs to take a stand on food poverty came originally from the charity which runs the Foodbank in neighbouring Devizes, and has won support from the Salvation Army, who have given out ??? food parcels to people in Chippenham in the last year alone.

"From our point of view, we see the reasons why that person is coming to us and the reasons are wide social ones and government-related," explained Miriam Dann, who works at the Salvation Army hall on Station Hill helping some of the most vulnerable people in Chippenham.

"The five week wait for Universal Credit is a massive issue. People are getting into debt - five weeks without money would be a challenge for a working person let along someone on benefits.

"The other one is housing: you get people who want to downscale their council house but because they are in arrears they are not allowed to move - but they can't afford the rent which is why they are in arrears so it's a vicious circle.

"These are issues that can only be resolved by the government and it's important to see where candidates stand.

"Our current MP is a Conservative and our current government has been very vocal that the five week UC wait is not a problem.

"But we know that it is, that's what we are seeing at first hand."

There is a chance for Chippenham voters to quiz their candidates, Conservative Michelle Donelan, LibDem Helen Belcher and Labour's Martha Anachury when Male Votes Matter host a General Election hustings in the Neeld Community Arts Centre on December 2 at 7pm.