Save free school meals!

Hands off free school meals!

Hands off free school meals!   (Click to enlarge: opens in new window)

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 Vicious Tory means-testing of universal credit claimants means that free school meals will be withdrawn from around a million school kids across the country, 24,000 on Merseyside alone.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.