Plaid Cymru slam Labour free school meals review as ‘timid, toothless and Tory lite’

Plaid Cymru has slammed Labour’s promise of a “review” into free school meals eligibility in Wales as “timid, toothless and Tory lite”.

The party’s Senedd election candidate in Caerphilly Delyth Jewell took aim at Labour following the launch of its manifesto.

Plaid have accused Labour of consistently voting against its motions in the Senedd aimed at extending free school meals in Wales to children from families in receipt of Universal Credit.

In its manifesto, the Labour Party said that the review of the eligibility criteria for Free School Meals would look at “extending entitlement as far as resources allow”.

The Labour “review” lacked any meaningful detail and was miles away from the progressive Plaid Cymru manifesto commitment of providing free school meals to all children in Primary by the end of the next Senedd term, according to Delyth Jewell.

Delyth Jewell said: “I was disappointed but not surprised when I read the Labour Senedd election manifesto.

“Labour Senedd members have consistently voted against Plaid Cymru motions to extend free school meals eligibility.

“Holding a review will not address child hunger – it’s timid, toothless and Tory lite.

“Labour’s manifesto lacks any substance or meaningful detail on free school meals and it is miles away from the progressive Plaid Cymru manifesto commitment of providing free school meals to all children in Primary by the end of the next Senedd term.

“70,000 children in Wales, living below the poverty line in Wales have no assurance that they will receive a free school meal under a Labour government – a situation we can only change by electing a Plaid Cymru government on May 6th.”