A 22-year-old South London councillor has pledged to buy food for kids this half term as parents face the spiralling cost of living crisis. Independent Kingston councillor James Giles is helping families in New Malden and surrounding areas this week as people struggle to afford basic necessities due to soaring costs. 

Councillor Giles, leader of the Kingston Independent Residents Group, will be using his first month's councillor allowance to buy food vouchers for families to spend in Aldi over the holiday. He was elected to Kingston Council in May this year, and stood in the 2019 General Election at just 19 years old. 

Councillors receive a monthly allowance for their work. Kingston councillors were entitled to a basic allowance of £8,474.84 in 2020/21, according to council documents. Members with "special responsibilities," such as cabinet positions, are paid more money on top of this.

In a video posted to Twitter, Councillor Giles, who represents the Green Lane and St James ward, said locals could ask for vouchers "no questions asked". He said: "I know it's half term coming up and many parents are facing the squeeze with the cost of living crisis that's currently unfolding, so if there are any families in New Malden who need extra support over half term then please do not hesitate to get in touch."

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It's important for people to be able to feed themselves and their kids this half term – for people on Free School Meals but also people who finding the cost of living a challenge." He said his team had been processing requests as quickly as possible.

He plans to donate any money leftover to charities "supporting people with the cost of living" – including Kingston Foodbank and Save the World Club. People took to Twitter to praise the "incredible" and "kind" move. Jamie Brilley, a Green party member in Kingston, said he was "setting an example when the GVMT are letting people down".

Another wrote: "Well done. But be careful – caring, honest politicians get a lot of grief from the establishment in this godforsaken country." Kingston Independent Residents Group tweeted: "This is what a real community [councillor] looks like." Writer Mira Bar-Hillel wrote: "You're a really good guy and I'm proud of you."

Millions are facing a cost of living crisis as prices rise at their fastest rate for 40 years. Households across the UK were hit with a £700-a-year increase in energy costs in April, while the war in Ukraine is also driving fuel and food prices.