A significant rise in food poverty has prompted 80% of the UK public to urge the government to extend free school meals to children in households receiving Universal Credit.
- A YouGov poll commissioned by The Food Foundation highlights increased public support for extending free school meals, rising from 72% to 80% in a year.
- As of January 2023, food insecurity has affected 21.6% of households with children, doubling from the previous year’s 11.6%.
- Support is particularly strong in key marginal Conservative constituencies, potentially influencing future electoral outcomes.
- Devolved nations such as Scotland and Wales are ahead of England in implementing universal free school meals for primary schools.
A recent survey reveals that an overwhelming 80% of the UK populace advocates for the government to extend free school meals to children hailing from households benefiting from Universal Credit, marking a perceptible rise from the prior year’s consensus of 72%. This sentiment is encapsulated in a YouGov poll engineered by The Food Foundation as part of its Feed the Future campaign, based on the participation of 8,000 respondents nationwide.
The poll mirrors a distressing increase in food insecurity among children, with 21.6% of households with children reporting such issues as of January 2023, compared to 11.6% in January 2022. This stark data estimates that approximately 3.7 million children are directly impacted, symptomatic of the wider cost-of-living crisis undermining families’ access to nutritious food.
The political repercussions of this shift in public opinion are most keenly felt in marginal seats currently held by the Conservatives, including those under the aegis of high-profile figures such as the Prime Minister and senior cabinet ministers. Should the government heed the call for policy change, it may mitigate electoral risks in these pivotal constituencies.
England’s current stance contrasts sharply with the proactive policies of devolved nations. Scotland and Wales are notably advancing towards universal free school meals in primary schools, while Northern Ireland maintains a notably higher income threshold for Universal Credit eligibility at £14,000, doubling that of England.
Anna Taylor, executive director of The Food Foundation, voices concern over long-standing trends of food insecurity, which highlight significant deficiencies in the government’s safety net. Taylor asserts the urgent need for policy reform, suggesting that extending Free School Meals to more children in England could effectuate a timely and popular change, resonating with voters whilst substantively addressing the crisis.
The data underscores an urgent and widespread call for the government to align its policies with public demand for equitable access to free school meals.
