GOVERNMENT inaction on poverty will fuel support for politicians “with simple answers to complex questions,” a Labour MP warned his party.

Neil Duncan-Jordan led discussions in Parliament on Tuesday asking Sir Keir Starmer’s government to implement an “Essentials Guarantee” to stave off the millions unable to afford basic needs such as food and heating.

Failure to do so, and to tax the wealthiest corporations and people, will “undermine” trust in the current political system, the MP said.

“One of the most important legacies this Labour government could achieve would be the massive reduction in poverty and the widening of opportunities for millions of people currently struggling to get by,” Mr Duncan-Jordan told the Commons.

“There is now a wealth of evidence showing that there is a growing gap between what people have and what they need for a decent standard of living.

“Millions in the UK are falling well short of that standard, as costs continue to rise and our social security system fails to provide adequate and appropriate support.”

He also warned the government that failure to fairly tax the very wealthiest corporations and individuals could mean it is unable to uphold the UK’s “social contract.”

“[This] will inevitably further undermine trust in our current political system and ultimately lead to support for those with simple answers to complex questions,” he added.

He said that the term “poverty” did not “begin to capture the depth of the crisis facing millions of people.”

“Almost a third of adults say they are unable to keep their home at the recommended minimum temperature of 18°C” and that “more than one in 10 UK households experienced food insecurity last year.”

In response to the crisis, Mr Duncan-Jordan argued for a government “Essentials Guarantee,” which would ensure the social security system has a genuine safety net.

He explained that current welfare provisions offered by the state fail to cover the essentials.

“Right now, five in six low-income households on universal credit are going without essentials, and nearly 90 per cent of people referred to foodbanks are receiving a means-tested social security payment,” he said.