About 900,000 children from struggling families will lose their right to free school lunches under a significant cut unveiled in the Tory manifesto.
The total includes more than 600,000 young children recently defined as coming from âordinary working familiesâ, according to analysis by the Education Policy Institute.
Stephen Morgan, Labourâs candidate for Portsmouth South, said:
âThis is another example of the Tories saying one thing then doing something else. It is a heartless move which will punish families.
Tory proposals will cost families about ÂŁ440 for every child hit by the cut. Families deserve betterâ.
The Education Policy Instituteâs analysis found that about 100,000 children who are in relative poverty will no longer receive a free meal under Tory proposals. It found that an additional 667,000 children defined as coming from âordinary working familiesâ would no longer receive a free lunch.
Overall, its research concludes that about 900,000 children who are either eligible for the pupil premium supplement or classed as being in ordinary working families will lose the right to a free hot lunch.
Stephen added:
âOnly Labour offer an alternative to a Tory government. We have pledged to extend the free school lunches policy to all primary school children.
We mustnât let the Tories continue to let down hard working familiesâ.
