POLITICIANS standing for election to Holyrood must tackle “unacceptably high levels of hunger and hardship,” campaigners demanded today as new figures show the charity Trussell delivered almost 220,000 emergency food parcels last year.

Trussell provided 218,838 parcels — 67,752 for children — in 2025, equating to 600 parcels a day, or one every two-and-a-half minutes, a 13 per cent fall on the 2024 figure, but not enough for the celebrities who joined the charity’s call to action.

Still Game’s Sanjeev Kohli said: “Parents are being forced to ration nappies and people are opening food parcels to eat as soon as they leave the foodbank.

“I don’t want to live in a country which stands by as people are forced to the brink like this.”

Shetland actor Julie Graham said: “It’s especially alarming how many children are experiencing this, struggling to get through a day at school on an empty stomach.

“That’s why I’m standing with Trussell and calling on all political parties in the Holyrood elections to commit to ending the need for foodbanks, so no-one has to go through this.”

Trussell Scotland’s Cara Hilton said: “We need to see the political will to act on the unacceptably high levels of hunger and hardship.

“We must build a Scotland where everyone can afford the essentials, where every child has a decent start in life, and where charitable food provision is consigned to history.”

The Scottish government said: “No-one should have to compromise on food or other essentials. 

“Building on ongoing investment of over £3 billion per year to policies that tackle poverty and the cost of living, in 2026-27, we will continue to offer the most comprehensive cost-of-living support package in the UK.”