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Last week, the Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announced that the provision of free school meals for all primary pupils in London would be made permanent if he was re-elected.

The letters have been sent ahead of mayoral elections on 2nd May to call on all candidates across the UK to support nationwide action to extend free school meals. The 87 signatories include celebrity chefs Tom Kerridge and Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall, as well as NGOs, academics, councillors, doctors and health organisations.

According to research there are 900,000 children living in poverty in England who are missing out on national eligibility for free school meals. Outside of London, only children from households with an income below £7,400 a year (after tax, before benefits) are eligible; a threshold that has not increased since 2018. 

The Food Foundation believe it is ‘unfair’ that all primary school children in London receive a free hot meal at lunchtime, with the same being rolled out in Scotland and Wales, while there are so many children across the rest of England who are living in poverty without getting the same level of essential support.

Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, said: “As the transformative potential of free school meals is being increasingly recognised in London, we are calling for the scheme to be expanded nationwide to bring an end to the postcode lottery.

“Every child deserves access to healthy, nutritious food regardless of where they live. As we approach the 2024 general election, we urge all national political parties and metro mayors to pledge to do what’s right and ensure that no child in England is left to go hungry at school.” 

New polling commissioned by The Food Foundation, found:

• West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA): 79% of people support expanding free school meals to more children, while 73% support expanding the current scheme to all children. 
• Yorkshire: 73% of people support expanding free school meals to more children, while 67% support expanding the current scheme to all children. 
• In Liverpool City Region Combined Authority: 80% of people support expanding free school meals to more children, while 75% support expanding the current scheme to all children. 

If free school meals were extended to all children, for every £1 invested, £1.71 would be generated in core benefits driven by improved health, education and employment outcomes.  

Kerridge added: “We need to end the postcode lottery in free school meals now. Every child should have a hot meal at lunchtime. Free school meals provide a vital safety net for families struggling in the current cost of living crisis and policy makers need to commit to making sure every child in the UK can benefit, learn and go on to reach their potential.”