Scrapping free school lunches would deprive 6,500 children, waste £1/2 million spent upgrading kitchens in Newcastle

Plans by Theresa May and the Tories to axe free school lunches would waste the £1/2 million invested in Newcastle to upgrade school kitchens, according to the Liberal Democrats' Shadow Education Cabinet Member on Newcastle City Council.

It comes after figures revealed almost 6,500 children in Newcastle are set to lose out under the Conservative proposals.

When in government, the Liberal Democrats invested £160m upgrading school kitchen facilities across the country to enable them to prepare hot lunches.

Dr Nick Cott, who is also Liberal Democrat candidate for Newcastle Central commented:

"The Liberal Democrats in government invested £160m to give schools the kitchens they needed to ensure that no infant would go hungry.

"This policy was extremely successful and guaranteed that local children who benefit from it most received at least two of their five a day in their school lunch.

"But now Theresa May is threatening to throw that money down the drain.

"A Conservative measure designed to save money will waste money. Not only is it heartless, it is bad economics.

"I challenge the Conservative candidates in Newcastle to say whether, if elected, they would vote against their own party to ensure that children in Newcastle receive a decent lunch.

"The Liberal Democrats will protect free school lunches for infants and ensure all primary school children can get a healthy, free lunch a day."