Salford and Eccles MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey has praised pop star Zayn Malik’s open letter demanding the Government to widen the eligibility for free school meals.
The praise comes after the former One Direction star published an appeal for Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, to loosen strict eligibility criteria surrounding school meals. It’s estimated that up to 800,000 children living in poverty currently miss out on the support.
In the letter, Mr Malik wrote: “These children are suffering from a lack of concentration, some even resorting to stealing food from the canteens because they are so hungry and can’t afford to buy lunch.
“They are also feeling shame which is directly impacting their physical and mental health.”
Salford and Eccles MP, Rebecca Long-Bailey, shared her support for Mr Malik’s plea via Twitter this morning. She tweeted: “Food and energy costs are spiralling, pushing more families into poverty. If we want our children to have the best chance in life the Govt needs to extend free school meals to even more children. Well done @ZaynMalik.”
Data released by Greater Manchester Poverty Action (GMPA) reveals that as many as 32% of children are living in poverty in areas of Salford, and a further 39% in ‘low-income households’.
This summer saw over 25,000 free school meals given to eligible Salford children from the Holiday Activities Food (HAF) Programme.
Food and energy costs are spiralling, pushing more families into poverty. If we want our children to have the best chance in life the Govt needs to extend free school meals to even more children. Well done @zaynmalik https://t.co/5ZdOLaNw2j
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) November 8, 2022
This isn’t the first time Ms Long-Bailey has discussed the issues of free school meals, after her 2020call on the government to provide more accessible provisions for families during school holidays. In the statement, she said: “Any government that is willing to let the poorest children in the country go hungry needs to take a long hard look at its priorities.
“Shamefully, children go hungry every year, but this summer will be especially difficult for many families as job losses and reduced incomes hit household budgets.
“It would be deeply callous of the government not to take this small step to ease the financial pressure on households and ensure children can eat during the summer holidays.’’
For more information on applying for free school meals, visit Salford City Council’s website.
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