LABOUR’S long-awaited child poverty strategy was criticised yesterday for failing to roll out universal free school meals.

Ministers have announced more accessible childcare and an end to families being stuck in bed and breakfasts beyond the legal limit.

Amid a record high of 4.45 million children living in poverty in Britain, PM Sir Keir Starmer described the strategy as setting “a new course for national renewal, with children’s life chances at its heart.”

While National Education Union general secretary Daniel Kebede welcomed extending free school meals and breakfast clubs as “steps in the right direction” he warned “government needs to go further and follow the example of Wales and London to roll out FSM for all primary school children, so no child is left behind.

“A strategy without ambitious targets will fail to safeguard vital aims of the task force’s work. Warm words will not heat homes or help children concentrate in class.”