Why the Government must extend Free School Meals to more children

- This means that most primary school children in England are missing out and are not getting the same level of support as children in other parts of the UK. [...] The Committee therefore recommended that the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals should be expanded to ensure all children in poverty receive a hot meal at lunchtime. [...] - 82% of Labour voters and over half (53%) of Conservative voters are in favour of immediately extending free school meals to all children from families receiving Universal Credit, followed by a future expansion to all school children. [...] - Respondents were asked how their vote in future would be affected by the Labour Party adopting a policy to extend Free School Meals to all children on Universal Credit immediately, and in the long-term to all school children, before the subsequent general election: o 65% of prospective Labour voters would be more likely to vote for the party, as well as 64% of 2019 Labour voters. [...] - Widening provision of Free School Meals is seen by voters as one of the top four ways for a Government to support families in the cost of living crisis (after energy bill assistance, increasing minimum wage and providing affordable housing).