CIVIL servants are missing meals and turning to foodbanks to survive, their union charges in a survey published today.

The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS), representing almost 180,000 of Britain’s 479,000 civil servants, said a survey of its members reveals problems including one-third of staff skipping meals because they have no food, workers having to take second jobs, staff unable to afford fares to work, physical and mental health problems caused by financial worries and “dread of school holidays because they wonder how they’ll feed their children.”

The Civil Service workforce has recently suffered a barrage of attacks from ministers including prime ministerial candidate Liz Truss and Jacob Rees-Mogg, Minister of State for Brexit Opportunities and Government Efficiency.

Ms Truss said she would slash the wages of civil servants based outside London — before U-turning within 24 hours following an uproar.

Rees-Mogg wants to axe 79,000 Civil Service jobs and says he will end flexible working.

PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “PCS members worked tirelessly during the pandemic to keep the country running, paying out benefits to almost two-and-a-half million families, helping them to put food on their table and keep a roof over their head. 

“But now they’re struggling to put food on their own tables as the cost-of-living crisis hits home. 

“As the Conservative leadership contenders squabble over what tax cuts to make, the same civil servants who will be asked to deliver their policies are being cast adrift.”

He said civil servants should be “treated with respect, not as political pawns” and called for an above-inflation pay rise as food and fuel costs rocket.