38 h. ago Eradicating child poverty must become Labour’s central mission

Editorial: After years when the party seemed to be undeclared disciples of austerity, the government’s conscience – prompted by some shocking electoral setbacks – has been awoken. For the country's sake, as well as its own, children must now be at the heart of everything it does, starting with free school meals

Events

40 h. ago Voices: Rachel Reeves: I saw first hand what the Tories did to kids of my generation

Conservative governments did not care about schools or communities like mine, says the chancellor, as she reveals her motivation behind Labour’s announcement to roll out free school meals for half a million children

Politics

42 h. ago Keir Starmer vows to attack child poverty crisis after free school meals boost

Keir Starmer said expanding free school meals to more than half a million more pupils next year was a 'down payment' on the Governments plans to drive down child poverty

Events

42 h. ago Mirror Daily Digest: Top stories from 'dangerous' Ryanair flight to free school meals

In this Thursday's Mirror Daily Digest, we've pulled together the biggest stories of the day from Romeo Beckham's split from his girlfriend, to even more Winter Fuel Payments updates

Politics

42 h. ago Voices: Rachel Reeves: I saw firsthand what the Tories did to kids of my generation

Conservative governments did not care about schools like mine, communities like mine or the kids I grew up with, reflects Chancellor Rachel Reeves – as she reveals her very personal motivation behind Labour’s announcement to roll out free school meals for half a million of England’s poorest children

Politics

44 h. ago Should all children be given free school meals? Vote in our poll

Keir Starmer has announced plans to extend free school meals to all children in families receiving Universal Credit in England in a bid to tackle child hunger in the classroom - and we want to hear your thoughts

Politics

45 h. ago Starmer describes free school meal expansion as ‘down payment’ on child poverty

Ministers have announced plans to expand free school meals to all pupils in England in families on universal credit from September 2026.

Politics

47 h. ago All the pupils eligible for free school meals in England in your area

Nearly half of pupils in Manchester are eligible

Politics

47 h. ago 'Thousands of children' in Manchester will benefit from major free school meal change

The changes will come into effect next year

Politics

47 h. ago 'Free school meals were a part of my childhood': Zayn Malik 'beyond elated' at reforms

The 32 year-old One Direction star has shared his joy at the news that free school meals will be expanded to children from households on Universal Credit

Politics

48 h. ago Handing free school meals to all children from households that claim Universal Credit WON'T drag 100,000 out of poverty next year, says IFS

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson has announced that every pupil whose household is on Universal Credit will soon have an entitlement to free school meals.

Society

48 h. ago Pupils eligible for free school meals in England, by local area

Nearly half of pupils in Manchester are currently eligible for free meals.

Politics

49 h. ago More than one in four pupils in England now eligible for free school meals

The figures come as the Government announced plans to expand free lunches to all pupils in families that claim universal credit from September 2026.

Politics

49 h. ago What Keir Starmer's new free school meals plan means for London

The government has announced the major change to free school meals will take effect from next year

Politics

51 h. ago Huge DWP Universal Credit boost as 500,000 more families qualify for new benefit

The free school meals move comes after campaigners and education leaders have called for it to be extended

Politics

59 h. ago Charities welcome free school meals change but warn ‘more is needed’

Charities and school leaders welcomed the change but urged the Government to reconsider the two-child benefit cap to ease poverty levels.

Events

60 h. ago Free school meals for half a million of England’s poorest children

The move, which comes after a major campaign by The Independent, said the expansion will lift 100,000 children across England out of poverty

Politics

60 h. ago Major change for families on Universal Credit announced as parents set to save £500 a year

The government has announced that hundreds of thousands more children will now be eligible for free school meals

Society

61 h. ago All pupils in families on universal credit to be entitled to free school meals

The move comes after campaigners and education leaders called for an extension to ease pressures on young people living in poverty.

Politics

61 h. ago KEIR STARMER: Free school meal boost will put £500 in parents’ pockets and help kids achieve

Keir Starmer writes for the Mirror that 'it’s common sense that children can’t do well at school if they’re hungry' as he unveiled a major change to free school meal rules

Economics