Given the history of the policy it’s especially rich to see Lib Dem county councillor John Howson trying to score party political points on the question of free school meals for five, six and seven-year-olds.

This policy was implemented by Labour councils in 2009.

When Labour councils first developed this policy, the Lib Dem deputy leader condemned it in a letter saying “they are spending millions giving free school meals – some of it going to the borough’s richest families irrespective of whether they can afford to pay for them already.”

The Lib Dems adopting this Labour initiative is to be welcomed, but the point being made is that the government have tried to rush it in, without sufficient central resource support. That has put schools in our county in a very difficult position, with a real risk that money could be taken away from educational priorities to pay for Lib Dem and Tory incompetence. As per Councillor Gill Sanders’ original letter said.

Cllr Val Smith, The Leys Division, Oxfordshire County Council

 

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