|
|
 |
| |
John Prescott |
‘Mean!’ Prescott in school meals attack
FORMER Labour Party deputy leader John Prescott has joined the fight to save free school meals for primary children from being scrapped, labelling the ruling Lib Dems as “downright mean”.
Mr Prescott waded into the school meals row after reading a posting on Twitter pointing to the Tribune’s front page revelation last week over the Lib Dems’ plans to end the scheme if re-elected next year.
Mr Prescott said: “I usually stay out of local council politics. But when I heard from [St George’s ward Labour candidate] Alex Smith on Twitter that the Lib Dems were considering axeing universal free school meals in Islington if they were elected, I had to speak out.”
He made a plea to all parents: “Please fight to keep your free school meals. It makes such a difference to children, removes the social stigma of free school meals from those who can’t afford to pay for them and will give pupils healthy eating habits that will stay with them for a lifetime. The Lib Dem proposal to axe the meals is not only short-sighted, it’s just downright mean.”
The Lib Dems are working on alternative budget proposals with a view to raising the qualifying threshold for free meals for both primary and secondary schools.
Speaking from experience, as MP for Kingston-upon-Hull, where the Lib Dems scrapped a similar scheme for universal free school meals, Mr Prescott said: “The aim was to drive the uptake of healthy school meals, providing children with the fuel to learn and instil healthier eating habits. The results were very encouraging. The amount of young people having healthy school meals doubled, with more than 14,000 pupils eating properly at school not at the local chip shop.”
He said teachers reported children were more focused, performed better in the afternoons and behaviour improved.
Hull University researchers also recommended the scheme continue. “But the Lib Dems took control of Hull City Council and decided to axe the scheme,” said Mr Prescott. “And surprise, surprise, the number of children having school meals has gone back to the old levels.”
Paul Campbell, headteacher of Christ the King RC School, in Tollington Park, where the scheme has been piloted, said: “On the whole it’s working well. We’ve increased uptake by 20 per cent.” He said some parents “would miss it” if the scheme was scrapped next year.
Juliet Benis, headteacher of Ambler Primary School, Blackstock Road, said: “There could be a fairer way of organising free dinners so those who need it get free meals and those who don’t, don’t. However, many of our children have really benefited. My feelings about the Lib Dems depend on what they were going to spend the money on instead.” |
 |
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
