Save free school meals!

Hands off free school meals! (Click to enlarge)

Hugh Caffrey, Socialist Party North West secretary

"Theresa May, strong and stable, stole the food from the children's table!" chanted 60 or so protesters at the first protest in Liverpool against free school meals being scrapped. Vicious Tory means-testing of universal credit claimants means that free school meals will be withdrawn from around a million school kids across the country, 24,000 on Merseyside alone.

This needless cruelty rankled deeply with many passers-by who expressed their support for the protest with some joining in. Several compared this to the bedroom tax, but aimed at children.

As a start, campaign organisers are looking to protest against local Tory MPs, get people to contact their Labour MP about the debate which Labour secured in parliament on the issue, and spread the word about what's happening. People brought donations to the protest of school uniforms and other things which the poorest parents will find useful.

Others provided free hot meals - what a contrast between working class people helping each other and snide Tory billionaires attacking our children. Socialist Party members gave out a leaflet which was well received by all, and will continue to support this really important campaign.

Labour councils should refuse to implement this cut and maintain free school meals in their schools.

Find the campaign on Facebook - 'No child will go hungry'

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Finance appeal

The coronavirus crisis has laid bare the class character of society in numerous ways. It is making clear to many that it is the working class that keeps society running, not the CEOs of major corporations.

The results of austerity have been graphically demonstrated as public services strain to cope with the crisis.

The government has now ripped up its 'austerity' mantra and turned to policies that not long ago were denounced as socialist. But after the corona crisis, it will try to make the working class pay for it, by trying to claw back what has been given.

The Socialist Party's material is more vital than ever, so we can continue to report from workers who are fighting for better health and safety measures, against layoffs, for adequate staffing levels, etc.
When the health crisis subsides, we must be ready for the stormy events ahead and the need to arm workers' movements with a socialist programme - one which puts the health and needs of humanity before the profits of a few.

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