Carlshalton and Wallington supporters of overseas aid charity CAFOD joined thousands of campaigners from around the country yesterday [9 June] to talk about solving poverty over a cuppa with their local MP.

David Murray (67), from Bleinham Gardens in Wallington, was among a group of local constituents who met their MP Tom Brake at the Tea Time For Change event at Westminster to call for changes to government policies that affect the poorest people in the world.

It was the biggest mass lobby of politicians since the coalition formed.

Among their demands was a call for the poorest people to receive their fair share of the profits made by multinational companies working in their countries.

David said: “It’s incredibly important to get the Government to keep their promises on aid and stick to their commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on overseas development aid. We’ve had a good response from our MP, which makes me feel we are knocking on a reasonably open door.

"Millions of people are living in unnecessary poverty and we and our politicians can change this unjust situation.”

Tom Brake said: “I’m very impressed by the commitment of my constituents around the issue of aid. They have left me in no doubt they want me and the Government to take them seriously. I will be taking their concerns to both the Prime Minister and Andrew Mitchell.”

The event at Westminster Central Hall was organised by aid agencies ActionAid, CAFOD, Christian Aid, Oxfam, Save the Children and Tearfund and was attended by over 1500 campaigners and over 130MPs.

Andrew Mitchell MP, Secretary of State for International Development, and Harriet Harman, MP, Shadow Secretary of State for International Development spoke at the event.

The coalition government has committed to a target of 0.7% of national income in overseas development aid by 2013.

CAFOD argue that despite the progress made on poverty reduction over the last decade – much more remains to be done, particularly to ensure that multinational companies operate in a transparent way in poor countries and pay their fair share of taxes.