Girl, 8, ‘on verge of destitution’ in plea to East Ham MP Stephen Timms
Letter form an eight-year-old to MP Stephen Timms - Credit: MP Stephen Timms
An MP has tweeted a letter he received from an eight-year-old girl in his east London constituency pleading for help whose family he says is “on the verge of destitution.”
The child’s family are having to sleep in one room because of the so-called ‘bedroom tax’ on their council flat.
The hand-written letter was given to MP Stephen Timms by the girl’s parents when they called at his weekly surgery in East Ham.
Mr Timms has now posted the letter on Twitter to draw attention to growing poverty facing many families in his constituency.
“I am writing this letter because I am unable to attend this meeting with my parents due to my school,” the girl wrote.
“Things are becoming more and more difficult. Initially, we were living in a two-bedroom flat, but now we have to give a room out because of the house rent. We are now all sleeping in one room.”
She explains how they find it difficult to feed because her parents tell her they don’t have money.
Most Read
- 1 School which has nine-hour days praised as 'outstanding'
- 2 Three in custody over knifepoint robbery in East Ham after foot chase
- 3 RideLondon 2022: East and central London roads among 100 miles of closures
- 4 Seven men charged following cannabis factory fight
- 5 Burrard Road stabbing: Plea date set for Custom House murder accused
- 6 Tossed cigarette in Chadwell Heath costs Beckton man almost £400
- 7 Revealed: Your favourite fish and chip shop in east London
- 8 Men jailed after violent beating with steering wheel lock caught on dashcam
- 9 Plaistow police officer to face GBH trial after man left paralysed
- 10 Maskless passengers on London trains and buses fined 4,000 times
“Sir, I am a hard-working girl that wants to keep learning more and more,” she adds.
“But due to the financial situation of my parents, I am unable to attend teaching lessons and swimming lessons on Saturdays because my parents don’t have enough money.
“I would like you to please interfere on our behalf.”
She enclosed some of her school results for good measure, which showed all As.
Labour’s Mr Timms said “the extraordinary letter” from the child was a warning of growing numbers “on the verge of destitution” owing to welfare reforms that reduce housing benefits where tenants in council and housing association properties have an unused bedroom.
She was “a remarkable little girl” facing a very tough time, the MP said. The family was only surviving because of help from friends and handouts from the church.