Conservative plans will take lunches away from 39,016 children in Kent

39,016 schoolchildren in Kent will lose out on free lunches, under plans announced in the Conservative manifesto.

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/she 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."

ENDS

Notes to Editors

Figures on the number of children per school and local authority benefiting from universal infant free school meals can be found here. Universal free school meals for infant pupils (up to Year 2) were introduced by the Liberal Democrats in coalition government. Currently the government subsidises lunches for infants by £2.30 - these changes will mean removing £480 subsidy per child, per year.

Under Conservative proposals, for the first time, many people who receive care at home will have their home taken into account, to meet the costs when they die. This will apply to the almost half a million people who receive domiciliary care in the UK. Figures on the share of the average family home expected to be spent on social care costs can be found here, based on calculations provided by Royal London.