Government announces U-turn on free school meals

The Government has announced that free school meal vouchers will be extended over the Summer holidays, in a significant U-turn from its previous refusal to extend provision. In addition to significant pressure from MPs, and the high-profile intervention of Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, the Government’s reversal followed shortly after a second letter before claim threatening judicial review of its refusal, sent on behalf of charities Sustain and the Good Law Project. The claim alleged that the decision not to provide free school meals during the summer was in breach of ECHR and irrational at common law.

Jamie Burton was instructed, together with Sam Jacobs and Daniel Clarke, by Dan Rosenberg of Simpson Millar on behalf of the charities.