Nicola Sturgeon’s failure to deliver promised free school meals has been branded “unforgivable” in the wake of shocking hunger statistics. Foodbank the Trussell Trust has revealed the number of food parcels given out to kids has soared 77 per cent since 2017, and by 65 per cent overall.
Despite the crisis, the Scottish Government is yet to deliver on a pledge to extend free school meals to primary six and seven pupils, or to kickstart a pilot of free meals in secondaries. The Sunday Mail is backing a campaign demanding universal free school meals for all children.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “Letting children and young people go hungry and undernourished is unforgivable. This is happening on the Scottish Government’s watch and the buck stops with Nicola Sturgeon.
“Breaking the promise to expand free school meals during a cost-of-living crisis is beyond cruel.”
Labour MSP Rhoda Grant is also planning a Members’ Bill demanding a statutory right to food in Scots law. She said: “There is no more time to delay.”
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “We are doing everything we can to help households within the limited powers we have.
“The right to adequate food is a human right, essential to the realisation of other human rights, and we agree that it should be brought into Scots law, as far as possible within devolved competence.”
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