COMMENT. Could anything be closer to the true spirit of Christmas than Ledbury’s recent Food Bank Christmas Bazaar?

Volunteers organised it and donations came from individuals, groups and organisations, and so it was a real feather in the cap for the community: and every item was handed out for free.

However, we live in an age where generosity seems to lie more in the hands of individuals, rather than in the hands of the State – no matter who is in power.

On Friday the UK woke up to a new Government, - new because considerable promises had been made by the two key players:Labour, yes, but also by the Conservatives.

Both main parties seemed to herald an end to austerity, and questions are even being asked as to whether austerity measures were needed at all, for the world’s fifth biggest economy.

London, of course, is also the heart of global capitalism; in fact it is the beating heart. Huge wealth is generated there.

But at last there seems to be political recognition that the less wealthy in society are just as important as anyone else, including the incredibly rich.

All this comes back to the need for Food Banks: because there is still a need. In the months and years ahead, if they are still required, that will be a significant black mark against whichever party is in power at the time.

Promises made by politicians should never be just promises to gain votes during an election.

Those promises must be kept.