Mandeville Primary in Hackney, where 62 per cent of the pupils are eligible for free school meals
(Picture: Daniel Hambury/Stella Pictures Ltd)Politicians from all parties have backed the Feed the Future campaign to extend free school meals to all children in poverty.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan is among senior figures pledging support for the coalition of campaigning organisations co-ordinated by the Food Foundation calling on Liz Truss to extend free school meals to all children in England living in households on universal credit.
The Liberal Democrats, the Greens and senior Labour and Conservative MPs also backed the call to widen support to the 800,000 children not able to get free school meals because their family’s income, excluding benefits, is over £7,400 a year.
The campaign has also received overwhelming support from the public. Signatories to the petition number rmore than 200,000 — with over 40,000 added in a single day.
Mr Khan said: “As the cost of living crisis worsens, many families will be increasingly wondering how they’ll be able to keep putting food on the table. That’s why I welcome the Feed the Future campaign.”
The Mayor said expanding free school meals would save families hundreds of pounds a year, as well ensuring “all schoolchildren are eating a healthy, nutritious meal at school and eliminating the stigma associated with being eligible for free school meals”.
Former Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove, ex-Tory health minister Lord Bethell and senior Tory MP Robert Halfon have all urged the Government to consider expanding free school meals.
Their intervention follows a new study by PwC which shows that the cost of extending free school meals to all those in poverty is far outweighed by the health gains. The accounting firm reporting a net benefit to the economy of £2.4 billion over 20 years. Tory peer Lord Bethell said that “the economic case for extending free school meals is becoming overwhelming”.
He added: “These kids do better at school and therefore contribute more to the economy. And their long-term health costs will be reduced.”
Senior Labour MP Stephen Timms, chairman of the work and pensions committee, said he also “strongly supports” the call to expand free school meals to all those on universal credit.
The MP for East Ham said his local council in Newham had already made free school meals available to all primary school pupils. “I have seen the benefits of this policy over many years,” he said.
Earlier this week a joint investigation by the Evening Standard and The Independent found that some desperate pupils are stealing food from local supermarkets and the school canteen to stave off hunger.
Munira Wilson MP, the Liberal Democrats’ education spokesman, said too many children were “bearing the brunt” of the cost of living crisis and their education was suffering as a result.
Carla Denyer, co-leader of the Green Party, said expanding free school meals was a “no brainer”. Mr Gove said extending free school meals to all children in families on universal credit would be “more than worthwhile”.
Mr Halfon suggested that the Government could increase the current eligibility threshold of £7,400 to include more families, or expand the provision of breakfast clubs across the country.
