Andy Burnham says Labour must put free school meals vow in election manifesto
Labour should promise free school meals for all primary school children in its next election manifesto, Andy Burnham has declared.
The Greater Manchester Metro Mayor, who twice stood for the party leadership, called on Keir Starmer to guarantee the lifeline for kids when voters decide who should govern Britain.
Mr Burnham said if his authority had the money, he would like to be able to offer primary youngsters free school meals – just like London Mayor Sadiq Khan has pledged in the capital.
“I don’t have the money in the same way to do it,” admitted Mr Burnham, speaking exclusively to the Mirror on the margins of the Transport for the North conference in Newcastle.
The Mirror is campaigning with the National Education Union to demand free school meals for all primary schools in England – in line with promises in Wales and Scotland.
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Andy Commins / Daily Mirror)
All children in England can get free school meals up to the end of Year 2 but after that it only applies to households on certain benefits.
Pupils living in Universal Credit families are eligible if their parents earn less than £7,400-a-year from work.
Around 800,000 kids living in poverty in England miss out on free dinners due to strict eligibility rules, according to the Child Poverty Action Group.
“I have supported the Mirror campaign and I would like it to be primary and secondary – maybe more targeted in the secondary context – to be able to make sure that any young person who wants a meal gets one,” said Mr Burnham.
Why every child deserves a free school meal
The country’s children should not be the victims of the cost of living crisis.
They should not have to pay the price because their parents cannot afford to put food on the table or heat the family home.
But at the moment there are nearly four million children living in poverty. Many of them are being brought up in homes where there is not enough money to pay for a hot meal. Some are having to skip meals entirely.
That is why the Mirror is calling on the government to provide free school meals for every primary pupil in England.
The Scottish and Welsh governments are introducing universal free school meals. It’s time England did the same.
If a child is hungry they cannot learn. It makes it harder for them to concentrate in class and harder for them to reach their potential.
Free school meals for all primary-age children would save parents vital pennies – money which could be used to pay for warm clothes, school activities or heating.
It would reduce the bureaucracy attached with deciding which pupils are eligible. Most importantly, it would mean every child have the chance to flourish.
You can find out more about our Free School Meals for All campaign here
“But I do support it and, like subsidising public transport, it’s a policy that has many, many societal benefits.
“If you can be sure that all kids are fed and ready to learn, the benefits of that are huge.”
Mr Burnham highlighted the role played by local hero, Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford, “and the brilliant things that he has done” as he campaigned to ease child poverty and feed hungry kids during school holidays.
“He gave a voice to those kids who go hungry in Britain every day,” said the former Cabinet Minister.
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PA)
Pressed on whether Mr Starmer should commit to free school meals for primary school children at the next election, Mr Burnham said: “Yeah, I would support it – I have supported that policy, so yeah.”
He added: “If I had my way, I would like to see a commitment in the manifesto which is basically the acceptance of the Right to Food campaign.”
The crusade was launched by Labour MP Ian Byrne at the start of 2020, aiming to enshrine a right to food into legislation in order to “end the scandal of hunger and food banks once and for all”.
Mr Burnham said: “That would guarantee food in law; no-one in Britain should go hungry – that’s what we should have in a country like ours, that everyone has enough to eat everyday, a right to food.
“I think that would be a great policy.”