Free Meals

It also throws up the question "Why does the state have to feed MPs at all?" The answer to that, and to the matter of MP's living allowances, is/was that once upon a time MPs were all drawn from county or upper-class families, who had the funds and leisure to give their services to the state for nothing, and to have hampers sent up to from their estates for their meals. The free food and drink and the expenses were to compensate the new breed of representatives with empty pockets, to encourage participation by other classes.
What has happened is that MPs are one of the few sets of workers who determine and vote for their own remuneration - which has led to some notable excesses in claiming for expenses and for a "canteen" serving meals for those members with the most expensive tastes.
Surely this is a suitable time for the House to show solidarity with the nation by cutting back on their own high standard of living, not by taking a raise and knocking back free nosh and booze?

nanna8

Why does the state have to feed children at all? I really don't get it. Must be the only country in the world where this happens. Certainly doesn't here in Australia. It is the responsibility of the parents and the parents alone.

There were no facilities at all for school lunches at the primary DGS attended so packed lunches had to be provided by the parents. The senior school provides lunches which have to be paid for and I don't think any are provided free.

That is an interesting question, though, which throws up more questions.

Do more children in Australia go hungry as a result?
Is the welfare system better in Australia?
Is housing relatively cheaper so that less income goes on rent or mortgage?

Good post Maw.

Good post, Maw. You have summed it up perfectly.

I say: Let the children starve, until their parents learn how to look after them properly, which in some cases will be never. ?

Jane 10 that may be your experience but it’s a bit like saying “I hated school shoes so why should mums in Wales be angry that they can’t buy them at Tesco at the moment?”

Irrelevant I am afraid.

nanna8

Why does the state have to feed children at all? I really don't get it. Must be the only country in the world where this happens. Certainly doesn't here in Australia. It is the responsibility of the parents and the parents alone.

Bit of a throwback to pre-Welfare State days?
Or perhaps you would advocate bringing back the workhouse?
Nobody is denying that there are myriad reasons behind child deprivation but faced with children going without or living off crisps and snacks, now is not the time to have that argument.
Are we really going to return to a Dickensian dystopia of undernourished children suffering because we don’t want to help?
Added to that the heavily subsidised meals our MPs are entitled to, plus an expenses allowance that most people would be glad of as a salary and it is truly a shameful and indefensible situation.

nanna8

Why does the state have to feed children at all? I really don't get it. Must be the only country in the world where this happens. Certainly doesn't here in Australia. It is the responsibility of the parents and the parents alone.

Read

The difference nowadays is that in our LA at least, children have a choice: hot meal choice, sandwiches and/or salad bar.
There is usually something for even the fussiest eater.

To strike a rather different note and, obviously based on my own previous experience, 'school dinners' were so awful that I'd really hate to have to have another one. I'm sure they're much nicer these days though and based more on what modern children actually prefer to eat.

Iam64

Don't even bother sooziewoozie.

I think I’ll have the day off today - what with threads encouraging nastiness towards women and other groups, intellectually bankrupt comments about MR and FSM and the glories that are our Government, I must have something better to do. A book and music beckon and some baking methinks.

Don't even bother sooziewoozie.

nanna8

Why does the state have to feed children at all? I really don't get it. Must be the only country in the world where this happens. Certainly doesn't here in Australia. It is the responsibility of the parents and the parents alone.

Where to start?

Why does the state have to feed children at all? I really don't get it. Must be the only country in the world where this happens. Certainly doesn't here in Australia. It is the responsibility of the parents and the parents alone.

You'd think all that expensive education would have taught them that throughout history a government or party of any left or right bias soon found out that it was a bad move at a time of national crisis to award themselves a pay rise of £3,000 a year while rejecting a move to extend giving children free meals over the half-term holiday. Romans seeking popular acclaim supplied free "bread and circuses" for the plebs. Marie Antoinette suffered for retorting "Let

suziewoozie-I read the letter from Paediatricians. I wonder if this government will respond by calling them 'virtue signalling celebrities' as they have to Marcus Rashford

Yes, I agree, the government has made a royal b***sup here. Its as though they miss being called 'the nasty party'

Anyone getting a sense tbat the Government has royally stuffed up?
www.theguardian.com/education/2020/oct/24/top-childrens-doctors-attack-tories-free-school-meals-marcus-rashford

???

www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-tory-case-for-extending-free-school-meals

article in that well known socialist rag by that well known radical Conservative Chair of the Education Select Committee.

I'm no expert but I'm fairly sure that £15 would not buy you very much crack cocaine and that the last time that amount would be accepted in a brothel was probably in the 50's when News of the World reporters always, "Made an excuse and left".

Where do these political dinosaurs come from?

Good initiative in my town with individuals offering to do cooked meals for any families who are in need. They are posting online neighbourhood pages and it is gaining momentum. Plus local cafes and restaurants are offering free meals to children .
If government won't help then individuals must to stop children going hungry.

Petition signatures nearing 750 000.

Doodledog, you get that same strange argument about parents who smoke, gamble etc. - as if their children are somehow undeserving. Of course, none of these addictions are a financial problem for the wealthy.

I really hate to think that children are going hungry in the UK when, of course, we can easily afford to feed them.

Made in Yorkshire, hope your surgery and recovery go well.

Lyndylou, what makes you think those of us “carping” about the government aren’t also taking positive action? It wouldn’t take you long on Facebook to find most local businesses are offering free lunches to children who need them. One conservative mp is quoted as saying they must be recovering well from lockdown if they can afford this ?. No you awful woman, it’s because they care.

Children eligible for FSM needed feeding during school holidays when I started work in 1980 and for long before then. Family centres , social workers would give cash or food boxes to prop things up. It’s much worse now, benefits are lower and food, heat, rent more expensive.

Galaxy

I know I am having my tea , calling the government arseholes and donating to the local campaign. I should be prime minister really

You've got my vote Galaxy.

I know I am having my tea , calling the government arseholes and donating to the local campaign. I should be prime minister really