Two Irvine school children left letters on Humza Yousaf's desk in the Scottish Parliamentary Chamber to emphasise how important free meals at school are.
Humza Yousaf faces trade union backlash over free school meals u-turn
03.05.2023 - 16:09 / dailyrecord.co.uk
Trade unions have criticised Humza Yousaf after he signalled a u-turn on extending universal free school meals.
Pupils in primary 1-5 are entitled to free lunches and the SNP promised an extension to P6 and P7 pupils.
Campaigners also want the policy to apply to secondary schools.
But in an interview with the Record, the new First Minister said anti-poverty spending had to be targeted at those in need, suggesting that extending universalism may not be the best approach:
“I’ve got a 14-year-old now. Should people be paying for her free school meals when I earn a First Minister’s salary?
“I don’t think that’s the right way to use that money. A better way is to target those that need it absolutely the most.”
He later said every policy the SNP had committed to supporting, but had not yet delivered, would be reviewed to see its impact on cutting poverty.
The apparent u-turn sparked an angry backlash from campaigners
Andrea Bradley, General secretary of the EIS trade union, said:
“Reneging on a commitment to free school meals would be a massive and profoundly damaging mistake which would betray young people living in poverty across Scotland, and would be a particularly hard blow to families with school-aged children as they continue the hard struggle with the cost-of-living crisis.”
Joe Rollin, a Senior Organiser at the Unite union, said: “This looks like a screeching hand brake turn. We are calling on the First Minister to honour his commitment and remove means-testing for all primary school children for school meals.
“Workers across Scotland are suffering from real terms pay cuts. Rising food prices are making the situation worse. Families need more support from this Government. And they need it now.”
STUC General Secretary Roz Foyer
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