Can we really Trust Teresa May with a blank cheque?

I'm sorry but I can't understand how people who say they do care about the wellbeing and future of our children can then make remarks to the effect that it is the fault of neglectful or inadequate parents that children go hungry and that, that being the case, it is the responsibility of those parents alone and nobody else.

Suggesting that inadequate parenting would be better dealt with by social work intervention does not seem to take into account the current situation where child protection teams are already under-staffed and over-worked and many are at breaking point. Even in the most severe and intractable cases, care home/foster placements are very limited and very expensive.

I don't think measures, such as providing free breakfasts and lunches for young children, are an ideal or desirable state of affairs. But in the current economic climate where many families - even those with two people working - are struggling with housing costs and other basic bills and may be working irregular shifts which impact on ordinary family life - surely it is better that these sorts of measures are used to help ease the strain?

I think it is wrong to assume that all parents who are not coping well are lazy or uncaring. Some parents - for any number of reasons, including their own difficult childhoods, poverty, depression/mental health issues, lack of parenting role models, etc., - find it difficult to manage. Sure Start Centres were opened to address these issues and to help those people who were trying to be good parents but who just needed some practical guidance. Sadly, many of those centres have now been closed down.

That was to ww's last post, not yours roses!

I don't think we want obesity to be a priority.

But mainly about being hungry ww although the other things are important too.
As a hungry child myself I remember how ravenous I was all the long morning until lunchtime.Biscuits could be bought at break time ( 2 for an old penny!) but I rarely had any money at all.I wolfed down my free dinners and went for seconds......
The dinner ladies loved me!

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/20/jeremy-corbyn-calls-on-theresa-may-to-drop-anti-pensioner-package

If only dj realised that other people cared as well, it would be a start.
Sarcastic or personal remarks just keep on coming if you are not left wing and agree with all that is posted! Yes, it is off putting Jane but I can't see it changing anytime soon.

It isn't just about being hungry, it is about instilling good eating habits, obesity, better sat results and so much more.

A free breakfast for all is a great idea. there are those children from chaotic homes who may not get much or even anything at all, and even children who have had an early breakfast could be hungry by the time they reach school.Eating will help learning, you can't contentrate when you're hungry.Those children that come from disadvantaged backgrounds can then have a free hot lunch as well.

roses no its probably not worth answering but dj really cares and doesn't seem to see alternative perspectives or at least only seems to see them through very negative lenses. That doesn't make her a bad person or one to be ignored.
Sometimes in life it ain't what you say its the way that you say it. Her way of contributing to these debates is a bit off-putting or at least so confrontational that people just withdraw. I hope that doesn't happen in RL.

Dry bread or toast?

Will they be getting a hard breakfast or a soft breakfast?

Free breakfasts will mean schools paying more for before school supervision, kitchen staff coming in earlier plus they will still be having to make lunches as well. Will they be given extra funding for this? You can be sure it wont be anything like egg and bacon, it will be cheap carbohydrate heavy. The kids with neglectful parents less likely get to school early to eat the bowl of cornflakes. Im not against "breakfast clubs" which parents contribute to get to work early, which pays for the supervision, but I'm not sure universal free breakfasts is a vote winner.

You can almost see the foam...

I agree niggly I mean really.....'this is why the Tories want more poor people'
Not worth answering.

Honestly Jane10 I wouldn't waste your time and sanity trying to work out dj's train of thought, it's just not worth the effort!!

durhamjen if they are getting benefits their kids will be getting free school dinners and now free school breakfasts what do you want free evening meal before they go home as well. I still can't believe they can't afford to give their kids toast and jam or cereal and milk before they go to school. Most people would go without themselves to feed their kids.

This is why the Tories want more poor people.

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/16/poverty-election-vote-apathy

Jane, what's wrong with being exasperated and letting off steam on here?
Is there a rule against it? If so, I haven't read it anywhere.
Or have you just made one up?

Angry now, not exasperated.

Are you saying Tory policies don't make the poor poorer?

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/feb/28/children-in-uks-poorest-areas-10-times-more-likely-to-go-into-care

www.theguardian.com/society/2017/may/11/childrens-social-care-services-set-to-reach-breaking-point

www.theguardian.com/politics/2017/may/19/plenty-of-reasons-for-poor-people-to-vote-labour

What's new?

Where exactly do those policies state 'we must make the poor poorer'? I think that sometimes you just go too far. Invoking the childcatcher made me wonder if it had suddenly been all too much for you. I sense that you're exasperated and letting off steam on here!

Just the next step on from ninny's post, Jane. Just showing you how silly it is to say that if parents can't or are too lazy to take responsibility... social services should be involved.
The implication there is that it's only those two groups who can't afford food for their children.
4 million children living in poverty. All those parents too lazy or incapable of taking responsibility for their children? I don't think so.
Nothing to do with Tory policies of making the poor poorer?

dj you're just getting silly now!

I thought socialists were accused of nanny statism.
It sounds to me like Cons are, too. Getting social services involved when people are unable to feed their kids because they can't afford it?

Child snatchers will be on all street corners soon. Make sure you don't allow your kids/grandkids to play out in scruffy clothes.

Rigby46 are you talking from personal experience with your own children and grandchildren. Bless feel sorry for you then. The parents need to take responsibility for their kids welfare if they are unable or too lazy to do so social services should get involved. Free school meals should only be given to the children whose parents are on benefits in my opinion.

This is what will happen to the press if Maybot gets in.
If you want a free press, don't vote for her.
If you want a press run by Murdoch and pals, you know what to do.