Conservative plans will take lunches away from 7,766 children in the Oldham borough
7,766 schoolchildren in the Oldham borough 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 candidates Kashif Ali and Christopher Glenny to make it clear whether or not they 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 across Greater Manchester would expect to see 35% of the value of their home spent on care costs.
Liberal Democrat Garth Harkness, candidate for Oldham West and Royton 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/hundreds of children in (AREA), while the elderly receiving care in their own home will face a ‘Personal Death Tax’ charged against their home.
Oldham East and Saddleworth candidate Jonathan Smith said
“Kashif Ali and Chris Glenny must now come clean over whether he/she 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.”