Free school meals another U-turn

[LadyWithLapdog]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/education-54841316

Another U-turn. Well done Marcus Rashford. If Sunak can print another 150 billion for quantitative easing until March, they can find money for this cause.

@C130 couldn’t agree more. He’s used his ‘celebrity’ status to do some good and help others. He didn’t need to spend time doing this, but I’m pleased he has.

Cocopogo Kudos for using his popularity then, Maybe it’s how the world works but if that means fewer children go hungry then why not?

My DS goes to a private school , he has been following this story for sometime now and is shocked to learn just how big the number of children needing free school meals. He knows about poverty but it’s different when you hear it from someone popular. It really opened his eyes.

it's good to hear about your son @queenofarles

I think that one of the reasons we are where we are is that those from privileged backgrounds who are currently in power have too little understanding of the realities for those who NEED FSM.
(I am not implying your ds is a hardhearted Govt minister to be but that its great that a young person who doesn't need to be interested is bothering to do so - that gives me hope for the future) x

I think that one of the reasons we are where we are is that those from privileged backgrounds who are currently in power have too little understanding of the realities for those who NEED FSM.

They understand the realities perfectly - be in no doubt about that. Although if you want to let them off the hook for such ignorance ... well it's all the better for them isn't it ?

It's not they don't understand the realities. It's that they think the realities are the price you pay for being feckless/foreign/thick/female or simply "one of them". And as such are undeserving.

Remember at the height of this debate, how many Tory MPs were telling us that money for FMS was really going to crack-smoking mums ?

People should take advantage of the nuanceless world we've allowed to arise, and simply point out that it's a binary choice: Either you believe people deserve to be poor.

Or you don't.

If (as I do) you don't then there's a moral and ethical obligation on your to help those that are. I think there are a couple of really weird religions that say the same. Not sure what happened to them.

It's clear to me that when I was at school, being read A Christmas Carol, not all kids were getting the point it was a satire, and were making notes for their adult lives. And are now intent on reducing the surplus undeserving population.

@SerendipityJane

I think many of the recent and current Govt do too.
(IDS in particular, Patel, Gove, Johnson, Cummings, Cameron etc etc)

In my own life, I remember speaking to an ex colleague, (who worked for the Treasury in the 1970's - tho I didn't!) who commented, at the time of Grenfell: 'oh, were they too fat to squeeze out of the windows - working class people do tend to be fat don't they'. I was staggered, that a person could think that way, and be unashamed to express it.

I guess I put it that way as I don't want to think 100% of 'them' do, though I take your well made points - cog dissonance on my part?

Also, I didn't want to be misunderstood that I was implying that @queenofarles child, purely by going to a private school, was going to grow up to have such narrow views as clearly he and she are trying to avoid that which is creditable.

The ONLY way this will ever improve is if we refuse to accept the 'us and them' approach surely? But then that doesn't feed hungry kids.

Hey I’m not knocking it, though I am sceptical whether it’ll go to those who really need it but that’s always the case isn’t it.
someone commented upthread that it was a democracy and unfortunately we are a long way off that.

Queenof makes an excellent point re M Rashford. He is the kind of young person other young people can relate to so casts sunshine on this issue to an even bigger audience.

Plus, there was a time when that young man was very much not overpaid

It always amazes me that people will literally bend over backwards to argue against feeding hungry children. A small proportion of parents will not spend money on feeding their children but even if that is the case how is that an argument for making the kids starve?
Don't get me started on the idea that people are only poor cause of poor choices/they don't work hard enough/spend money on sky etc. Its insulting nonsense. Thank god for people like marcus rashford who have lived it and not forgotten about others when they have "made it"

It always amazes me that people will literally bend over backwards to argue against feeding hungry children

Not sure why. I learned a long time ago that some people are utter cunts.

What does amaze me is the effort and creativity people will put into trying to justify their opposition to tackling poverty - an effort and creativity that would seen an end to poverty if it was actually applied to eradicating poverty rather than perpetuating it.

surely part of eradicating poverty though serendipity is not having loads of children when you dont have enough money to support them? Its about not spending your money on yourself rather than you kids? eradicating poverty is not all down to the tax payer - some of it is down to individuals and their lifestyle choices

is Marcus Rashford going to divvy up some of his football wages to help pay for this initiative
i bet not!!

I mean I'm sure he pays more tax than most people here...... but let's keep trying to make the guy who fought for underprivileged children out to be an arsehole. I'm sure it will make you feel better.

So how many children would you allow then? If you’re poor and have only the one is that acceptable? Is that the deserving poor? Duck me, some of you are so twisted.

I don’t know if MR divvies up his money but he surely gave up his time for this. FFS how to be a wanker about somebody’s good deeds.

@Ginnymweasley

I mean I'm sure he pays more tax than most people here...... but let's keep trying to make the guy who fought for underprivileged children out to be an arsehole. I'm sure it will make you feel better.

Absolutely. This.

I do wonder how much about not giving kids fsm during the holidays was more to do with the extension of fsm to all children whose families are on universal credit. Schools receive an amount of money per pupil on fsm. This government hasnt be renowned in increasing schools budgets has it?

I feel the Tories went out of their way to pick a fight, to take time out during a pandemic to debate and vote on it, to do the rounds of the radio stations to try and justify it, only for two weeks later to do a U-turn. Why? What a cruel and unnecessary way to make some parents worry when it could have been avoided.

@dreamingofsun

call me naive but one thing i dont understand is why the government cant get money from absent fathers and give to the mothers/other parent. If it can get tax then surely they could follow the same sort of process to get child support?

They could if they wanted to. But the majority of RPs are women and we all know women and children don't matter.

@dreamingofsun

surely part of eradicating poverty though serendipity is not having loads of children when you dont have enough money to support them? Its about not spending your money on yourself rather than you kids? eradicating poverty is not all down to the tax payer - some of it is down to individuals and their lifestyle choices

What happens to DC whose parents could afford them when they had them. Are we meant to put them back?

I 'could afford' my 2 children when I had them.
I was married. Both my husband and I earned around £20K each.
But both have severe Autism (diagnosed after I had my 2nd child).
I had to stop work.
I am now a Carer, for which I receive £67.25 per week.
(that works out at about 40p an hour?, if you count all the overnights)
My husband left us.
Life is unpredictable. This year should have taught us ALL that fact.
If you are in a happier position, then good for you, but try not to view the poor as 'undeserving' - being poor is not a moral failing on the part of parents OR the children who are affected by it.

Marcus Rashford is a very decent human being.

It is a rare thing, for me to hold a footballer up as a positive male role model for my DCs.

Marcus Rashford is a rare thing, and not forgetting his mum.