The current free school meals programme in London delivers meals to 287,000 primary children every day and it has funded more than 17 million meals between September and Christmas 2023.
Sadiq Khan commented: “I launch my manifesto, guided by my defining mission to make London the greatest city in the world to grow up in. Starting with this promise: if I’m re-elected on 2nd May I’ll make free school meals permanent for all state primary pupils in London.
“Free school meals have proved a lifeline during the worst decline in living standards on record. But they do much more besides.That meal can be the difference between a child realising their potential and falling short of it. That meal removes the shame of not having enough money to eat. That meal makes children feel equal."
All state primary school pupils in London are now receiving free school meals to ensure no child goes hungry in the classroom. The initiative saves parents up to £1,000 per child over two years.
The wider industry has welcomed the news and some have called for even greater expansion to end the school postcode lottery:
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation: "This is a brilliant commitment to London’s children, setting them up for the future, helping them to learn and keeping them healthy. We are now calling for the scheme to be expanded nationwide to put an end to the school meal postcode lottery.
"Hundreds of thousands of children across the rest of the country are living in poverty and yet still do not qualify for a free school meal. 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 that no child will be left to go hungry at school."
Food campaigner Jamie Oliver: "Sadiq Khan has pledged to continue offering free school meals to primary schoolchildren, which is in my opinion a great use of London taxpayer's money. This is huge and part of what I’ve been working on for the past 20 years. Food in schools is as essential as exercise books - you can’t learn without it."
Sharon Hodgson MP: “High quality, hot, healthy and delicious school meals like those we enjoyed today in Parliament are a lifeline public service that has the power to improve the health, wellbeing and potential of millions of children in the UK - if only they have access to them. That is why policies like Sadiq’s that make school food universal and free at the point of access are the best tool in our arsenal to tackle child poverty and obesity.
“School food of this quality is a far cry from the semolina pudding and turkey twizzlers we may have eaten ourselves. These meals are held to strict nutritional standards that less than 1.7% of school packed lunches meet. Today (18th April) has been a great day for school food campaigners everywhere - as the tides turn and more people than ever call for great quality, accessible school food now.”
Stephanie Slater, founder and chief executive at School Food Matters: “Three cheers for Mayor Sadiq Khan. Today he has shown great leadership with the commitment to make school meals free for all primary schoolchildren in London for good. This is a vital investment in children’s health and wellbeing.
“The Mayor is spearheading a movement to make school food free for all, removing stigma and ensuring that children get the good nutrition they need to thrive.The next step is for the government to follow Scotland and Wales’ lead by expanding this policy to all children in England, regardless of their postcode.”
Zara Sultana MP: "This is fantastic from Sadiq Khan.He has pledged to make free school meals for all primary school pupils *permanent* if he's re-elected on 2nd May. This should be rolled out across the country, guaranteeing every primary school pupil gets a hot, healthy meal each day."
Children's Food campaign manager Barbara Crowther: "This is fantastic news for London's primary schoolchildren and their families. It would give schools and their caterers the ability to plan on a multi-year basis to ensure they are delivering healthy and nutritious lunches, and support children's overall food education. We also want them to be sourced as much as possible from sustainable, local and British producers, and be a total economic benefit.
"However, this cannot just be for London's primary schoolchildren, when older children and millions in the rest of the country are not accessing the healthy food that would fuel their academic learning and overall health. Mayors and councils in other areas do not have the level of funding of a London mayor, and school meals are primarily the responsibility of the Department for Education. We have to take this campaign into national policy, and call on all political parties to step up in the manifestos for the General Election later this year."
