Time for Labour to take hold of the free schools debate

You would think that free school meals would be a natural policy for Labour. Yet here we are, with a mountain of evidence and a stack of lobbyists all calling for universal free school meals, and the chief advocates are not Labour voices but Nick Clegg, Michael Gove and Boris Johnson. Campaigners among trade unions, Labour councillors and constituency parties are distraught that while we tiptoe round the party machine to try to get free school meals on the agenda, others are off and running with one of the best doorstep vote winning policies imaginable. Labour must regain the initiative, but how?

Hunger for some, obesity for others, crisps and chocolate packed lunches; these are the daily realities as hard up or lazy or ignorant parents cannot or will not pay for or provide a healthy lunch for their children. The effects on behaviour and educational outcomes are well documented and tested in practice through notable schemes run in several Labour authorities and London Boroughs. The long term health costs that end up falling to the NHS resulting from a poor dietary start in life is, again, well known. But one-in-four of those currently entitled to free school meals don’t take them and for too many of the rest, the £1.80-2.00 daily cost is prohibitive. Labour needs to show that it will support parents who want to make the right choices for their children and universal free school meals is an obvious way to do it.

So why isn’t it a core Labour policy? Setting aside the apparent reluctance to do anything other than creep carefully towards any policy positions at all, the real reason is a fear of being criticised for talking about a policy which would cost money. Universal free school meals up to the end of primary schooling would cost £900m per annum. So here’s a thought. We are told that the coalition government has done a deal; the Tories agree to the Lib Dems plan for free school meals in infant schools in return for the Lib Dems supporting the Tories’ proposal for a £150 married couples allowance. Now Labour could drive a coach and horses through that deal by saying they would scrap the married couples tax break proposal to pay for free school meals not just for infants but for primary children where its effect is most felt. Labour then has a complete school meals policy for children’s health and education whereas the coalition has split their policy, like themselves, in half. For Labour, it’s the right thing to do and party conference next week is the right time to do it.

Brian Strutton is GMB National Secretary