Westminster colleagues, students and alumni joined commissioners, parliamentarians, community organisations and people with lived experience at the Houses of Parliament for the launch of the final report of the Right to Food UK Commission. The University has played a leading role in supporting the Commission since its launch in 2025.
The parliamentary launch of the Commission's report marked a significant milestone in the growing movement to establish the Right to Food in UK law. The report highlights the fact that more than 14 million people are going hungry in the UK and calls for a coordinated national strategy to eliminate hunger, which includes strengthening social security and improving access to nutritious food through free school meals by embedding the Right to Food within UK legislation.
Westminster colleagues and course leaders of the Global Public Health and Nutrition (GPHN) MSc programme Dr Regina Murphy Keith and Dr Sharon Noonan-Gunning played a key role as commissioners. In this role, they analysed evidence gathered from across the UK and each wrote two chapters for the final report.
Students and alumni worked alongside the commissioners to analyse evidence, support community events and ensure that people’s lived experiences informed the Commission's recommendations. Students also produced a podcast reflecting on their experiences and sharing what they learnt from being involved in the Commission’s work.
Colleagues and students from the University’s GPHN MSc course have worked closely alongside Ian Byrne MP on the campaign since 2023. They have embarked on a five-city trek to support the Right to Food across the UK, hosted the World Public Health Nutrition Congress 2024 and created a student-produced documentary film about the fight against food insecurity.
The Commission was announced at the Right to Food UK Conference held at the University in September 2025, and following the conference, students established the Right to Food Society, creating opportunities for students from across disciplines to engage with research, advocacy and community action related to food insecurity.
This work reflects the University’s strategic commitment to using research and sharing knowledge to create positive change in the world. Through its ongoing collaboration with the Right to Food UK Commission, the University will continue to support research and evidence-informed advocacy to help ensure everyone in the UK can access adequate, nutritious and culturally appropriate food with dignity.
About the commission, Fabia Hannan Mone, a second-year PhD researcher in Public Health Nutrition and Research Officer for the University of Westminster Right to Food UK Commission Evidence Analysis Student Team, said: "Being involved in the Commission since its early stages has been an invaluable learning experience. Supporting evidence analysis, coordination activities and report development provided a unique opportunity to see how research, lived experience and policy can come together to drive meaningful change. Attending the parliamentary launch was particularly significant because it represented the culmination of years of work by communities, commissioners, researchers and campaigners committed to addressing food insecurity across the UK. As a researcher, it reinforced the importance of evidence-informed policy and demonstrated how universities can contribute to addressing complex social challenges through research, partnership and public engagement."
Dr Murphy Keith added: “It has been an honour working as a Commissioner with the UK Right to Food Commission, travelling to Ashington, Aberdare, Belfast, Cardiff, Gateshead, Glasgow, Liverpool, Northampton, Newcastle and London, listening to community voices and reading 135 organisation submissions capturing the impact of the rising cost of living on feeding families. Food poverty costs the UK £298 billion annually meaning the recommendations are cost effective, such as free school meals for all children under 18. Hopefully the government will implement recommendations as part of their ten-year plan.”
About the launch event, Alexandra Sutton, Global Public Health Nutrition MSc alumni, said: "I had the privilege of witnessing history being made in Parliament, in a room with the people I believe will be the pioneers of ending hunger in the UK. I have been part of the Right to Food UK Commission from the beginning, interviewing people across the country about their lived experiences, and seeing their stories carried into Parliament was a moment I will never forget. A Right to Food law could finally create the systemic change this country's children and future generations need, because food is political. Food is a human right, and it must be protected by law."
The Right to Food Commission contributes to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2: Zero Hunger, 3: Good Health and Wellbeing and 10: Reduced Inequalities. Since 2019, the University of Westminster has used the SDGs holistically to frame strategic decisions to help students and colleagues fulfil their potential and contribute to a more sustainable, equitable and healthier society.
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