39,016 pupils in Kent will lose out on free school lunches, under plans announced in the Conservative manifesto, claim Shepway Lib Dems
Free school lunches for pupils from reception to Year 2 were introduced by the
Liberal Democrats in government, but Theresa May now plans to scrap them. The
changes would cost families an average extra £480 a year for every child.
The Liberal Democrats have called on Conservative candidate Damian Collins
to make it clear whether or not he would vote for the plans.
The
Conservatives are also proposing to make older people pay for social care costs
from the value of their own homes when they die. This means on average, families
in the South East would expect to see 67.90% of the value of their home spent on
care costs.
Liberal Democrat Lynne Beaumont commented: "This Conservative
manifesto shows the nasty party is back.
"Margaret Thatcher was known as
the milk snatcher, it seems Theresa May will go down as the lunch snatcher.
"She is cynically snatching meals away from thousands of
children in Kent, while the elderly receiving care in their own home will face a
'Personal Death Tax' charged against their home.
"Damian Collins must now
come clean over whether he will vote to take away free lunches from the children
of hard-pressed families.
"The Liberal Democrats will offer a brighter
future by extending free school meals to all primary schools.
"We will
stand up to Theresa May's cold, mean-spirited Britain, protecting those that
need the most help and fighting for more funding for our schools and hospitals."
Figures on the number of children per school and local authority
benefiting from universal infant free school meals can be found
here.
© Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2003 -
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