A recent survey reveals that a majority of individuals in England, amounting to two thirds, are in favor of extending free school meals to all primary school students. The initiative garners broad support from various segments of voters, including 83% of loyal Labour supporters, 84% of those who have shifted towards left-wing parties, and 67% who have transitioned to right-wing parties, as per research by More in Common and the National Education Union.
This growing public sentiment puts pressure on potential Prime Minister Andy Burnham to surpass Keir Starmer’s efforts in broadening access to free school meals. Starmer had previously announced that starting this September, all children in families receiving universal credit would qualify for free hot lunches, benefiting around half a million children.
The Mirror has persistently advocated for extending free school meals to all primary school students and commended Starmer’s significant expansion, initially revealed last summer.
Support for universal free school meals is particularly strong among parents, with 82% endorsing the concept. However, backing for this policy is not limited to direct beneficiaries, as evidenced by 63% of individuals without children and 66% of financially stable individuals supporting the initiative.
Addressing child poverty emerges as the primary reason driving support for this policy, with 37% of respondents highlighting it as the main motivation, followed by alleviating the cost of living for families and promoting equality among children, both at 33%.
Various testimonies from respondents underscore the importance of communal dining experiences for children’s social and educational development, especially in light of the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson advocates for a “universal early years” offer to provide more support to parents, emphasizing the economic and social benefits of increased access to government-funded childcare.
According to Alex Newton, deputy director at More in Common, implementing universal free school meals for primary students presents a significant opportunity for Andy Burnham to bridge political divides and garner widespread public support. This policy not only unifies Labour’s diverse voter base but also demonstrates a commitment to supporting working families under financial strain while addressing child poverty.
The Department for Education emphasizes its commitment to providing free school meals to all children from households receiving Universal Credit, a move expected to lift 100,000 children out of poverty with over £1 billion in funding. This initiative, coupled with the removal of the two-child limit and other support measures, is projected to result in the largest reduction in child poverty in a single parliamentary term since records began.
The survey conducted by More in Common polled 2,011 adults in England between 10-13 April and 2,993 adults between 19-22 June.