Khan: I’ll deliver four more years of free meals
Mayor’s promise to all primary school pupils as he seeks historic third term
ALL primary school children in London will enjoy free school meals for four more years if Sadiq Khan is re-elected as Mayor, he promised today.
The pledge forms the centrepiece of his 2024 manifesto as he attempts to secure a historic third term when Londoners go to the polls in a fortnight.
Mr Khan first offered all pupils in state primaries free lunches — regardless of their family’s wealth — last September as a one-year emergency measure to alleviate the cost-of-living crisis. When it became clear the policy was becoming hugely popular, he offered to extend it for a year if re-elected on May 2.
Unveiling his manifesto today, Mr Khan vowed to retain the £140 milliona-year policy for the entire four-year mayoral term. He said: “Free school meals have proved a lifeline during the worst decline in living standards on record. But they do much more besides.
“That meal can be the difference between a child realising their potential and falling short of it. That meal removes the shame of not having enough money to eat.
“That meal makes children feel equal. And that’s why, if I’m re-elected on May 2, we’ll make universal free school meals permanent for all state primary school pupils in London.”
TV chef and campaigner Jamie Oliver said: “Free school meals are transforming the lives of all London primary school children.”
Mr Khan’s Tory rival, Susan Hall, has promised to retain free school meals until the cost-of-living crisis eases.
However, in the last few days she has questioned whether it is right for Londoners “on the breadline” to be feeding “millionaires’ children”.
Ms Hall believes it would be a better use of taxpayers’ cash — and would improve the quality of the meals — if they were targeted at the poorest children rather than offered on a universal basis. Her spokesman claimed the free school meals pledge was “uncosted” and could result in less cash being spent on policing. He pointed out that the scheme has been funded by a combination of City Hall reserves and business rates to date.
Labour estimates the policy will save the average London family £500 per school year per child. All 1,900 state primary schools in the capital take part in the scheme, benefiting up to 287,000 children. About 1.4 million free meals are served every week.
Green mayoral candidate Zoe Garbett said: “There are still thousands of secondary school children going hungry across the city and I believe City Hall can comfortably afford to provide free school meals to them as well.”