Sian Berry says Labour’s free school meals extension doesn’t go far enough to help children in poverty
Green Party MP Sian Berry has responded to Labour’s announcement that the free school meal programme will be extended. The government’s policy will bring an additional 500,000 children into the scheme.
However, Berry has said that this doesn’t go far enough to help children in poverty.
She said: “Children in poverty need the difference a Labour Government makes to be a giant leap, not just this small step. Why are ministers hesitating when they could immediately lift 400,000 children out of poverty by scrapping the cruel two-child benefit cap?
“Means tested lunchtimes need to end completely, and the Government should do as Greens have long called for, and bring in universal free school meals. Paid for by changes to our unfair tax system, this would remove stigma and give every single child access to healthy food and a more equal start in life.”
Hungry children do not learn so well. Means testing can be divisive and costly. Sian Berry’s idea for free school
Meals seems to fulfil our party’s aim of social (and environmental) justice.