USDAW delegate Richard McDermid called on union members to kick out the Tories at next year’s general election during a debate about child welfare yesterday.

Mr McDermid, who represents the union in Tamworth and is a Labour councillor, gave numerous examples of child poverty including the increasing use of foodbanks which many children rely on.

He told conference: “There has been an increase in children getting rickets in this country. That’s because they are not getting the vitamins they need for a healthy diet. That’s because of poverty and is absolutely outrageous.”

Laying the blame for the situation at the feet of the Tory-led government, Mr McDermid said: “We have a chance in 2015 to kick them out. 

“I have people coming to my surgery and they don’t know where to turn next. The only option they have is a foodbank.”

West of Scotland Morrison’s delegate John McLean pointed out the average family was losing £1,800 a year.

He noted that despite Britain being the seventh richest country in the world there were 3.5 million children in poverty and by 2020 the figure will be 4.7m.

“It is disgusting,” he retorted. 

Naomi Tweddle, Lincolnshire Area Tesco delegate added: “Child poverty is going to get worse. I wonder if some of the parents of these children are on short-term or zero-hours’ contracts as well as those unemployed.

“We need to hold these Con-Dems to account. Show the effects of the cuts and not allow them to demonise the working class in the media.”