Reform council leader condemned for comments criticising free breakfast clubs
The senior Reform figure has criticised the policy which aims to ensure disadvantaged children don’t go hungry at the start of the school day
The Reform leader of Kent County Council, Linden Kemkaran, is under fire after making comments criticising free breakfast clubs that benefit disadvantaged schoolchildren.
As reported by the Mirror, in a post on X, Kemkaran wrote: “Sorry, call me old fashioned but I believe it’s the parents’ job to give their child the best possible start to the school day.”
The Reform figure made the comment in response to the Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson posting a photo on a visit to a new free breakfast club at a primary school.
Phillipson said: “At Gillas Lane Primary, the new free breakfast club is delivering calmer classrooms, higher standards and happier children.
“Labour is rolling out breakfast clubs across England to give every child the best possible start to the school day.”
Labour introduced free breakfast clubs, 30-minute sessions before school where children get a free breakfast, to ensure they start every day ready to learn.
The government has focused on rolling out fully-funded breakfast clubs in primary schools where at least 40% of pupils are eligible for free school meals.
The Department for Education (DfE) says they save working parents up to £450 a year.
A Labour source told the Mirror: “You’d think Nigel and co would back something that promotes work and responsibility, but they’d rather attack it than stand up for working families.
“Breakfast clubs give children the best start to the school day and help parents work more to support their families. Reform are making their position crystal clear – they don’t mind if kids go hungry.”
Labour also pointed out that despite Kemkaran’s opposition to free breakfast clubs, there are already 29 of them in Kent, “with more to come”.
On social media, people criticised the Reform council leader’s position.
One person commented: “What about those who are working in poorly paid jobs or relying on food banks? Do you really begrudge children having a good start to the day?”.
Another wrote: “We have been doing this for years with Greggs Foundation in some schools around here and it has transformed the schooling of the children with better outcomes.
“No surprise Reform the party of billionaires and millionaires opposed it. A policy which benefits workers.”
Olivia Barber is a reporter at Left Foot Forward
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