Rachel Reeves Promises Free Breakfast Clubs for Primary Schools Starting in 2025
- Rachel Reeves announces free breakfast clubs for primary schools starting next April
- 750 schools will receive initial funding with a wider national rollout to follow
- Funded by imposing VAT on private schools
Rachel Reeves has announced that thousands of primary school children will benefit from free breakfast clubs starting next April. Speaking at the Labour Party conference, the Chancellor outlined plans to introduce the policy in 750 schools initially, before rolling it out nationwide.
This flagship initiative, aimed at helping children thrive, will be funded by imposing VAT on private schools. Reeves has provided a £7 million cash boost to Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson to kick-start the programme.
In her speech, Reeves emphasised the importance of education, stating, “Investing in the next generation is essential so that children from working-class backgrounds can lead richer lives.”
Reeves' decision to means-testing the £200-£300 cold-weather sum has been met with criticism by many Brits, with her responding, “I made the choice to means test the winter fuel payment, to target it at those most in need. I know that not everyone – in this hall, or in the country – will agree with every decision I make. But I will not duck those decisions. Not for political expediency. Not for personal advantage. Faced with that £22 billion black hole that the Conservatives left this year and with the triple lock ensuring that the state pension will rise by an estimated £1,700 over this Parliament, I judged it the right decision, in the circumstances we inherited.”
Reeves also attributed upcoming tough decisions to reckless spending by the previous Conservative government.
Imposing VAT on private schools may mean a small percentage of parents will now no longer consider private education and those children will be educated fully at the tax payers expense through state schools. We don't yet know how its all going to work out financially. Imposing VAT on private schools could mean higher costs for state education. So whether this is funded by VAT on private schools is not yet known. I still think its a brilliant move though to have breakfast clubs for schools and schools need to educate about the dangers of processed food from an early age so children know right down to their core that highly processed foods are dangerous.
BonzoBanana I am so annoyed with the labour Party planning to imposing vat on private schools. No previous Labour government had ever, ever picked on private schools' education.
I am no admirer of the country's class system, and I do not hold a grudge against rich parents willing to pay for "Lord Snooty" education.
I can't picture Labour in power in 5 years' time.
It’s not ‘free’. Pensioners had their heating allowance taken away to provide this “freebie”.
LesPlumb Again we don't know if that will save money or not. There has been a huge rise in people applying for pension credit now and there is probably going to be a knock on effect to use of heating so more elderly may need to go to hospital etc.. These changes often have ramifications to other benefits and cause other costs.
LesPlumb I don't understand the meaning of free breakfast for primary school aged children.
When I was a school kid, I made myself a bowl of cornflakes with milk and fruit juice for breakfast. Or a boiled egg (no buttered bread) if I fancied a change.
These so-called poverty pleading parents are dragging the country down the gutter.
jam45 Reminds me of a story years ago where parents were feeding chips through the railings of a school fence because there school weren't allowing kids to go out at lunch I think. Just because a healthier free breakfast is available doesn't mean kids brought up on junk food will eat it however I still think its a hugely positive move but utterly moronic parents will spoil it for their kids.
However again I would say there are much larger problems that need to be dealt with today, the large trading deficit, debt levels and many other factors crippling the economy. The fact the labour party is incapable of prioritising the real problems we have today shows their incompetence sadly.