Mrs May be not
In her latest U-turns the PM drops plan to axe free school meals and a vote to revive fox hunting. She’s fast becoming..
THE Tories completed a second humiliating climb-down in less than 24 hours after revealing infant schoolchildren will continue to get free dinners.
Theresa May made the latest manifesto U-turn the day after the Government formally ditched plans for a free vote on bringing back fox hunting.
Unveiling the latest about-face, Schools Minister Nick Gibb told MPs: “We have listened carefully to the views of the sector on the proposal to remove infant free school meals and we have decided that it is right to retain the existing provision.
“Infant free school meals ensure children receive a nutritious meal during the day. They save hard-working families hundreds of pounds a year and boost achievement.” Tim Roache, GMB union leader, said he was pleased the Government had finally “seen sense” on the matter.
He added: “Snatching lunches from school kids is a spectacularly bad idea and a surefire vote loser.”
Alison Garnham, chief executive of Child Poverty Action Group, agreed and said: “With child poverty rising fast, axing a policy that improves children’s wellbeing would not have made sense.” Earlier, animal rights activists declared victory after the Government shelved its fox hunting plans, which were exposed by the Daily Mirror during the general election campaign.
Eduardo Goncalves, League Against Cruel Sports chief executive, said: “It’s a victory for common sense.
“The public doesn’t want a government messing with the Hunting Act when there are so many other important issues to worry about.
“If it wasn’t for the Mirror, this could have slipped under the radar.”
Environment Minister Therese Coffey said on Monday: “The Government’s manifesto includes a free vote on the Hunting Act 2004, but we are not planning to bring forward a free vote in this session.”