Kids and parents rely on free school meals – but the government is now threatening to cut them for the youngest children.

All children in reception, year 1 and year 2 school classes are currently eligible for free school lunches. Under the latest proposals, hundreds of thousands could lose out.

As the government itself has stated, hunger in schools is a pressing issue. It has even begun to set up breakfast clubs for this reason. It makes no sense to fund breakfasts but cut lunches!

It is all part of a package of cuts reportedly put forward by education secretary Bridget Phillipson, which also includes reductions in music and dance classes.

People did not vote Labour to see the party take food out of the mouths of young children.

There should be no cuts to school meals – and no return to austerity.