Colchester MP Champions Landmark Labour Plan to Provide Free School Meals to Over Half a Million More Children

• New entitlement for all children in Universal Credit households in Colchester to receive free school meals

• Part of Labour’s bold Plan for Change to boost attainment, wellbeing, and family finances

• £500 annual saving for parents, 100,000 children lifted out of poverty nationwide

• Backed by £13 million to rescue surplus farm food and feed families in need

Pam Cox, MP for Colchester, has today welcomed a transformative new policy from the Labour government that will provide free, nutritious school meals to over half a million more children across England — including more than 5,000 in Colchester.

Starting from the 2026 school year, every child in a household receiving Universal Credit will be entitled to a free school meal every day. This bold expansion will not only ease the financial burden on struggling families — saving them nearly £500 per child each year — but also help break the cycle of poverty by improving children’s health, behaviour, and academic performance.

This historic move is a cornerstone of Labour’s Plan for Change, a comprehensive strategy to tackle child poverty and level the playing field for every child, regardless of background. It reverses years of exclusion under outdated eligibility rules that denied support to hundreds of thousands of children living in poverty.

Pam Cox, MP for Colchester, said:

“I’ve heard firsthand from parents, carers and teachers in Colchester about the devastating impact of child poverty.

 That’s why I’m proud to support this bold and compassionate step forward. Expanding free school meals will lift children out of poverty, ease the pressure on families, and give every child in Colchester the chance to thrive.

 Labour’s Plan for Change is delivering real hope and real help — and this is just the beginning.”

The policy is part of a wider package of support for families, including:

• A new Child Poverty Strategy to be unveiled later this year

• A permanent, above-inflation boost to Universal Credit from April 2026

• Expansion of free breakfast clubs and 30 hours of funded childcare

• A cap on branded school uniform items to reduce costs for parents

• £13 million in funding to food charities to rescue surplus farm produce and deliver it to families in need

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“Parents are working harder than ever, but too many are still forced to choose between heating and eating.

Feeding more children for free is one of the most powerful things we can do to ease that pressure, tackle poverty, and give every child the fuel they need to learn and succeed.

This is a defining moment for our country — and a proud step forward in our mission to build a fairer Britain.”

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson added:

“This is about fairness, dignity, and opportunity.

No child should be held back because of their background. With free school meals, breakfast clubs, and better childcare, we’re giving every child the tools to succeed — and every parent the support they deserve.”

Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall said:

“Poverty is a moral scar on our society.

By expanding free school meals to all families on Universal Credit, we’re ending the impossible choices too many parents face — and laying the foundation for a future where every child can thrive.”

To ensure quality and nutrition, Labour is also working with experts to revise the School Food Standards, ensuring every meal meets the highest standards of health and wellbeing.

This new entitlement will apply across all settings where free school meals are currently delivered — including schools, school-based nurseries, and further education institutions. Parents will be able to apply ahead of the 2026 school year using their National Insurance Number to confirm eligibility.

Colchester Impact Snapshot:

• Children eligible (Years 3–11, 2024): up to 5,360

• Number of schools: 46

• Families saving on average: £500 per child

This is just one part of Labour’s mission to break the link between background and opportunity — and to ensure every child, in every community, gets the best possible start in life.