Now that we are "levelling up" or, at least that is what Boris Johnson campaigned on during the last election, should the poorest kids in the UK receive additional free meals outside of school.
Only 5 of the 363 Tory MP's thought it was worthwhile - has anything actually change among the ruling classes ?

Relative to the huge numbers being thrown at covid etc, this seemed a wholly sensible idea and it could have given the very poorest kids a small chance of improving their lot.

ah yes, another ill thought baseless attack on government.

If people cannot afford children then they should not have them, they should cancel Sky, broadband, eat beans, do everything they can to look after there own, not come bleating to me.

Maybe you could stop feedng your whippet and feed a family of wasters for a week? If we are lucky, they will each have two kids, expect the state to provide, that is only another billion mouths to feed!

You still got no plumbum in your pencil?

The voice of compassion and reason eh.

He'd probably burn unmarried mothers at the stake and imprint [ib@st@rd[/i into their offsprings forehead with a red hot cattle rod.

He comes across like he would. My guess is he'd be the first in the handout line, cap in hand, if he ever managed to get someone in the club.

Had to smile (actually wince) at Nicky Morgan on QT last night, suggesting it was how Labour brought the plan to Parliament that prevented the Tory's supporting it.
You cant condone Angela Raynor for calling her opposition "scum", in Parliament but, despite the language, she was right.

"Levelling up" by keeping the poorest kids hungry - nothing has changed - apart from yet another con job from Boris

Labour should hang their heads in shame for not being able to beat this shower at the last election.

Just for the benefit of our new "friend", even his hero Farage is saying the Tories got this one wrong. Hell, it really must be a poor call

I think a lot of this comes back to core of taking personal responsibility for your own actions. If you want to have children there has to be an assumption that you do intend to provide for them? Its like Covid - if we want to restrict the infection rate the the general population has to stick to the rules as best as it can.

You can provide food for kids in many ways - and this should be a priority of a civilised society. My view is this is taken out of the hands of the parents so everyone knows these kids are having a substantial meal everyday and the money is not getting used for other purposes. It would also make it efficient and cost effective.

Hopefully this doesn't lead down a slippery slope what is next - clothing, hygiene products etc.

“If you cannot afford children you shouldn’t have them” I bet your the same type who also thinks abortions are murder.

How embarrassing that once again a footballer is doing BJ’s job for him. Bearing in mind that the Government criticised footballers not too long ago.

It's not the kids fault is it?

As for the tired argument that you shouldn't have kids if you can't afford them that doesn't take into account how peoples circumstances can easily change without warning. I think there's a recent event that may have had some impact here.

Speaking as someone with personal experience of this situation I think free school meals ought to be provided fullstop.

See also those who want to cut overseas aid because we should "help our own people first". Our own people, obviously, being themselves.

The right just can't stand the thought of someone else getting something for nowt. Unless it's them, of course. Give them a tax break and they're suddenly in favour of a gimme.

Who said it was? People's circumstances change but do they prioritise when they do?

I agree those that can't afford should have a meal provided but it should be in the form of a meal not a voucher or UC too easy for some parents to fritter the money away or exchange the vouchers for other things. If you can afford it you should.

It seems like some of the private sector is stepping in to help feed some of the poorer kids, with various outlets now offering to feed kids for free.
It seems that yet again Boris & Co have got this one wrong.

MP's receive a pay rise and enjoy their subsidised canteen, while voting to keep the poorest kids hungry ??

Levelling up, just as long as you're already well off - there really is no change to the True Blue Tories.

Of course the vast majority do.

Who's betting the Facebook and Twitter mob will start a hatchet job on Rashford soon, theyve already started on Burnham.

You know "Hes a millionaire footballer what does he know about being poor?"
"Why doesnt he pay for it then".

You know, the usual gaslighting claptrap

So we should not be bailing people out who are desperate for food by spending 20 million but it is ok to spend loads of money bailing out businesses and helping people who can afford to eat by subsidising their food by eating out to help out to the tune of £400 million ?

The eat out to help out was a strange scheme, especially for a Conservative government, to pay for out of taxpayers money.
It's true that it helped the better off to have a few cheap meals, after all, it wasn't going to be used by those scratching round for cash to feed the less well off.
Having been in lockdown, there were plenty of folk that were just happy to be able to eat out and I'm not certain that there needed to be government assistance and that's before we think about some the many abuses of the scheme.

Ultimately, whatever anyone thinks of the parents or their priorities, it's not the kids fault and that's what really matters. Big own goal here, especially when plenty of Tory donors are making a lot of money out of the current situation.

I wouldn’t mind but all these Tory mps that voted against it, get their meals subsided!

It’s absolutely laughable!

I’m surprised Sal hasn’t told us he has never had to deviate from his caviar and champagne and doesn’t know what all the fuss is about?

The problem is, as long as the mail and the sun support the tories, nothing will change. Let’s be honest, 95% of the population believe what they read in those rags and are influenced by it.

Where did I say that? The idea of help out to eat out was to protect jobs was it not?

Its easy to suggest that feeding your own kids should be a priority over everything else - I have never smoked but I could imagine it must be very difficult to stop if your circumstances change but giving up other stuff is surely achievable?

Should it really be the state's role to provide everything - there has to be an element of personal responsibility - the UC is a reasonably generous system especially to families the idea that from that you can't feed your kids seems like poor judgement/prioritising?

I think free school meals should continue throughout the holidays but as meals not vouchers.

Only have Champagne on a Friday - hate caviar. I have worked for myself since I was 18 and I am nearly 60 - I raised three kids they never went without food even in the deepest recession when business was very tough. You can feed your kids if you really want to it really isn't that difficult.

What I have is do to hard work and a lot of luck - I have never signed on only thing we as a family ever had from the government is child allowance which we saved for the kids.

Last year I paid >£1m in CT so you can try and take the p1ss but how much did you contribute to society as a whole?

Good for you Sal.
However, the fact that a Tory government was effectively giving meal vouchers, for the better off to "eat out to help out", suggests that the hospitality was in need of life support, does it not ?
The people at the lower end of the job scale in that sector are usually on minimum wage, plus tips and quite often work part time.
Laid off or even furloughed, necessarily meaning that their already low income was cut.
The benefits system, although quick to respond in some cases, can be ridiculously slow so, just how do you cover the bills.

I dont deny that there are some people who do ok on the benefits system and there are those on low wages who manage to get by.
Life IS very tough for some and they run out of cash.
Maybe the had payday loans to cover or something worse, we dont know.

The idea of free school meals isn't and wouldn't be used by everyone on benefits, it is there as a safety net, not as the first point of call.

The right wing media like to portray EVERYONE on benefits as a lazy scrounger but, even you know this is simply not the case and in a civilised,, wealthy country, should we be accepting that the very poorest cant east every day ?

I completely agree with your post - hundreds of times has the company given staff loans when money has been tight - surely that is what a responsible employer should do.

Eat out to help out was surely an attempt to get hospitality back on its feet and protect the jobs of those who would have been furloughed as businesses were forced to close.

Whilst I accept the benefit system can be slow that is not the norm - the system seems very agile and responsive - free school meals should be automatic if you are on benefits and the benefits adjusted accordingly.

You will always get people who game the system - people with huge families - people who use food banks when they could afford the food and you will always have those incapable of looking after themselves but these are in the minority I would agree.