Skip to main content
Advertise with the Morning Star
Fighting poverty starts in the canteen
In order to remove stigma and make sure children go to lessons well-fed, all primary students must receive free school meals, argues National Education Union joint general secretary KEVIN COURTNEY
Students eat lunch in the school canteen during the beginning of the roll-out of universal free school meals for primary school children at Ysgol Y Preseli in Pembrokeshire

THE Liz Truss government’s mismanagement of the economy may be noteworthy in the speed with which it has precipitated a decline in living standards and brought the country to the brink of economic collapse, but the underlying features of the crisis are nothing new.  

Truss’s government is drawing the threads of the past decade into the present to weave a new pattern.

The cost of living reached critical levels even before the new government came to power — and is the consequence of more than a decade of Conservative transfer of wealth from the poorest to the richest in society.  

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
People take part in the counter-protest, organised by Stand Up to Racism, to the
Anti-fascism / 9 September 2025
9 September 2025

We must organise broad-based counterprotests and celebratory local community events to rebuild class consciousness and challenge the far-right’s divisive lies, writes KEVIN COURTNEY, ahead of this Saturday’s big demo in London

Cubans demonstrate in support of their government in Havana
TUC 2024 / 9 September 2024
9 September 2024
Cuba’s designation as a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ is inflicting incalculable damage on the country and its people, and leaving its health service in desperate need. KEVIN COURTNEY calls for one last push for the Cuba Vive medical aid campaign to get it over the line
Features / 1 February 2023
1 February 2023
While we take action we have to organise to oppose all attempts to divide us, writes KEVIN COURTNEY, joint general secretary of the National Education Union
TUC Congress 2020 / 14 September 2020
14 September 2020
To ensure no child is left behind, the NEU making a series of calls upon the government. Joint general secretary KEVIN COURTNEY explains
Similar stories
Children enjoying playing on swings
Britain / 27 March 2025
27 March 2025

A lunch tray in the school canteen
Britain / 12 March 2025
12 March 2025
Campaigners urge government to roll out universal free school meals
Stocks of food at a foodbank
Britain / 9 October 2024
9 October 2024