Row erupts over Theresa May's plans to axe free lunches for young pupils

Schools, celebrity chefs and campaigners have attacked the Tories' manifesto pledge
Plans under fire: Theresa May's Conservatives want to scrap school meals for young pupils
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Kate Proctor1 June 2017
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The Tories came under fire from schools, celebrity chefs and campaigners today after bombshell disclosures about their plan to abolish free hot lunches for young pupils.

The Evening Standard can reveal that former education secretary Michael Gove wrote to all heads in 2014 encouraging them to spend their budgets on new kitchens and upgrades in readiness for free meals.

Now schools are protesting that they were misled, following Theresa May’s announcement in the Conservative manifesto that universal free lunches for infants will end.

One London school said it had wasted thousands of pounds and got locked into a catering contract on the basis of Mr Gove’s assurance.

At the same time, celebrity chef Jamie Oliver attacked the new Tory plan for free breakfasts as “misguided, mean, and a false economy” because it had been given a budget equivalent to 7p per meal.

Anger at plans to scrap free school meals: Jamie Oliver
AFP/Getty Images

The row erupted as:

  • The pound dipped after a new  polling analysis suggested Britain could be heading for a hung parliament.
  • Jeremy Corbyn’s campaign continued to be dogged by questions over his past links to Sinn Fein/IRA. He was pressed on whether he also met political representatives of loyalist paramilitary groups. “Yes, I met many people in Northern Ireland over many years,” the Labour leader said.
  • Labour was put on the back foot on immigration after a leaked internal document proposed a visa system to allow thousands of unskilled or seasonal workers into Britain after Brexit. Labour insisted it had not adopted the policy. The Tories came under pressure to explain what they would do to meet demands for labourers.
  • Mr Corbyn dismissed Mrs May’s claim that he would be “naked” in Brexit negotiations, saying it was “totally inappropriate” language.

The row over universal free school dinners reopened after the Standard unearthed the Gove letter sent to all English headteachers in 2014. He and Lib Dem schools minister David Laws pledged a “long-term commitment” to universal meals.

The two ministers wrote: “We have decided to write this letter jointly to you, as education ministers from both parties of the Coalition Government.

“This emphasises that this policy has strong cross-party support, and schools can plan confidently in the knowledge that we are making a serious and long-term policy commitment.”

The Tory manifesto, unveiled two weeks ago, announced the universal free lunches policy was being ended because it was no longer deemed “a sensible use of public money”.

In its place will be a £60 million plan for a free breakfast for every pupil who turns up early to schools, working out at 7p per breakfast if all claim it.

Mr Oliver told the Standard: “Replacing their access to a proper balanced lunch, packed with the veg and nutrients kids need, with a 7p breakfast, is just bonkers. Ask any nutritionist, dietician, caterer or restaurant what you can do with 7p and they’ll laugh at you. This won’t help our children.”

Henry Dimbleby, co-founder of food chain Leon, who helped write the School Food Plan for the Coalition, said the Gove letter had prompted schools to spend £150 million on installing and refurbishing school kitchens. He said: “To axe infant free school meals now is an absolute betrayal, not only of our children, but of our headteachers, who have been misled.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn makes a General Election campaign speech in Westminster on Wednesday morning
PA

Headteacher Raphael Moss, from Elsley Primary School in Wembley, said: “The school invested thousands of pounds on a new kitchen and a new catering contract based on a sound business case.” He said the policy would be disastrous for his pupils who are from “working poor” households but who do not qualify for Free School Meals.

Russell Hobby, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said Mr Gove’s letter had shown clear commitment to the ambition for the policy.

He said: “On the basis of these assurances, school leaders invested heavily in newer kitchens, more staff and extra equipment. Three years later, these proposals are set to be ripped up.”

The NAHT estimates the promise of offering every child a free breakfast could cost up to £400 million rather than the £60 million specified. There are also concerns that up to 77,000 children in London technically classed as living in poverty would not qualify for free lunches.

A Tory spokesman said: “These fears are unfounded and it is disappointing to see them whipped up as a scare campaign. Our plans guarantee that every primary school child will have access to a free breakfast at school, which experts say provides the same benefits as a free lunch, and we’ll continue to ensure school lunches are free for those who need them.

“Our proposals are an improvement and are more cost-effective way of improving school meals.”

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