Flagship schools policy revealed
THOUSANDS of primary school kids will get free breakfasts from next April, Rachel Reeves announced today. The Chancellor used her Labour conference speech to unveil the launch date for the flagship schools policy.
750 primary schools to receive funding
Under the plan, every primary school child in England will be eligible for free breakfast clubs before class - paid for by imposing VAT on private schools. Ms Reeves revealed today that the first 750 primary schools will receive the clubs funding from April ahead of a wider national rollout.
Investing in education for the future
She has given Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson a £7 million cash boost to kick off the policy. Addressing the Liverpool conference, the Chancellor said: "I will judge my time in office a success if I know that at the end of it there are working-class kids from ordinary backgrounds who lead richer lives, their horizons expanded and have the chance to thrive."
Tough decisions ahead
Ms Reeves also vowed not to "duck the difficult decisions" in a bid to square the winter fuel cut with angry Labour members. Delivering her party conference speech, the Chancellor braced Brits for a tough Budget next month - warning: "The road ahead is harder and steeper than we expected."
Backlash over winter fuel payments
Her decision to strip winter fuel payments from 10 million pensioners has been the subject of fierce debate at the Liverpool get-together. Unions, campaigners, and even Labour MPs have railed against the move to means-test the £200-£300 cold-weather sum.
Seeking to calm the backlash, Ms Reeves told the audience: "I made the choice to means test the winter fuel payment, to target it at those most in need."
