The former education secretary Michael Gove has backed calls to extend free school meals to all children from families on universal credit, saying such an intervention would be “more than worthwhile”.
Speaking at a fringe event at the Conservative Party conference, the MP who as environment secretary also commissioned the national food strategy, said in an “ideal world”, free meals would be extended to all primary pupils.
But he warned “times are tight”, and described universal primary meals as “unrealistic”.
The cost of living crisis has led to growing calls for an extension of free school meals eligibility.
