A win for free school meals

The Government has finally agreed to expand access to free school meals, something the Liberal Democrats have been calling for over many years. This is a huge step forward for families across Newbury and West Berkshire, where an estimated 7,769 children are now set to benefit.

Too many parents in our community have faced impossible choices, such as whether to heat their homes or feed their children. That should never have happened, and while this expansion is long overdue, it’s very much welcome

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I’ve continued to push on this issue in Parliament, most recently submitting a written question on 7th May asking the Secretary of State for Education whether her department planned to increase funding for free school meals. You can read that here.

This is a win for families, schools, and campaigners alike—and I want to thank everyone who wrote to me about it. Together, we’ve helped make this happen.

But we must not stop here. The next steps are clear:

·       Automatic enrolment for eligible families—no more red tape

·       Action to cut school uniform costs

·       An end to the two-child benefit cap, which still pushes families into hardship

I'll keep fighting to make sure every child gets the support they need to learn and thrive. No child should ever be left behind.