Labour’s Education Secretary is facing backlash after reports suggest the government is considering scrapping free school meals for infants in England.
At present, around 1.8 million children in reception, Year 1, and Year 2 receive free meals. However, with the Spring Statement approaching, Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has reportedly suggested cutting school funding by £500m.
The proposal is part of a wider package of spending cuts, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves expected to slash £1.5bn from the civil service budget.
🤬 Government denies claims – but tensions rise
While the reports made front-page news on Monday, sources within the Department for Education have strongly denied the claims. The mixed messages suggest growing divisions within the government as the Chancellor prepares for Wednesday’s announcement.
💰 MPs get a pay rise – again
Meanwhile, MPs are set to receive a 2.8% pay rise, taking their salaries to nearly £94,000.
At the same time, the Commons is expected to vote in favour of cuts to benefits, with Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall aiming to save £5bn by 2030.
John O’Connell, chief executive of the TaxPayers’ Alliance, didn’t hold back in his criticism.
“This will be a bitter pill to swallow. Politicians from both major parties have hammered taxpayers for years. Now, they’re rewarding themselves despite delivering high taxes, persistent inflation, and failing services.”
He suggested MPs’ pay should be linked to economic performance, arguing their wage rises should reflect the real cost of living.
📊 How much have MP wages increased?
At the start of the last Parliament in 2019, MPs earned £79,468. Their latest pay hike will push their wages to just under £94,000—an increase of nearly £15,000 in five years.
With ordinary households struggling under the cost-of-living crisis, the timing of these pay rises couldn’t be worse.
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