Free meals for every child

LAST month, Mayor Sadiq Khan announced an emergency scheme to fund Free School Meals for every child in primary school in London, for one year.

This is fantastic news for children and families in London. But it’s heartbreaking to think that children here in Bristol and in the rest of the country are being left behind. The Government must step in to make sure no child, anywhere in England, goes hungry at school.

Did you know that last year four million children were living in households that went short of food? These households are our neighbours, our colleagues, our families. This Government should be ashamed.

Extending free school meals to every child in primary school is one thing the Prime Minister could do today to ease the pressure on every family during these difficult times.

London is doing it. Scotland and Wales are rolling it out already. This is the future I want for all our children, in our community and in every part of the country.

On March 24, the Free School Meals for All Bill received its second reading in Parliament.

If every MP backs this Bill, we can get this done. It just takes the political will and moral clarity to do what’s right.

If you believe this is right, would you consider writing to your local MP today? School meals shouldn’t be just another thing that hard working families, ‘just about managing’ as Theresa May called them whilst PM, have to stress over.

One local school is even asking parents of primary school children to help with the cost of books and writing equipment! This and school trips, never-ending fund raising for various good causes – it is non stop.

Please help and raise this with your MP.

Martin Rose