Livingston MP backs Tesco Winter Food Collection
Livingston constituency MP Gregor Poynton visited Tesco East Calder to support the supermarket’s annual Winter Food Collection, meeting volunteers, store colleagues, and Kathleen Neilly, Chief Executive of West Lothian Foodbank, to discuss how donations help families across the constituency.
The Winter Food Collection, which ran from 27–29 November, gathers long-life food and essential household items which are distributed directly to West Lothian Foodbank, operated locally with the Trussell Trust and FareShare. Gregor spoke with volunteers at the collection stand, encouraged shoppers to donate, and heard directly about demand for food support across West Lothian as winter pressures intensify.
The visit came days after the UK Labour Government’s Autumn Budget, which announced the abolition of the two-child limit on Universal Credit from April 2026. The policy change – long campaigned for by anti-poverty charities – is expected to benefit around 95,000 children in Scotland, including thousands in West Lothian.
Gregor said the decision marked “one of the most significant anti-poverty measures in a generation” and would materially reduce pressure on stretched local foodbanks.
Gregor Poynton MP said:
“It was inspiring to see the hard work of volunteers and staff at Tesco East Calder and to hear directly from Kathleen Neilly about the increased demand facing West Lothian Foodbank. Every donation made will go straight to families who need it most.”
“Ending the two-child limit is a landmark moment. It will lift thousands of children across Livingston and West Lothian out of poverty and ease the hardship that drives so many families to seek emergency food support. I want to thank the Trussell Trust, FareShare and all the local volunteers for everything they do, and I will keep working with them as this change comes into force.”
During the visit, Gregor also discussed Tesco’s wider community support programmes, including food redistribution initiatives, charity partnerships, and volunteer engagement across the Livingston constituency area.