I started drafting this fresh from Southwark Labour’s conference last weekend where the talking point was the dramatic and somewhat unexpected U-turn by the Southwark Liberal Democrats on free healthy school meals in primary schools. For the past four years they have openly and viciously condemned the policy but last Tuesday their website declared they would retain it. Then last Wednesday, on the same day that the campaign group 4in10 launched their ‘Let’s All Have Lunch’ campaign aimed at persuading more London boroughs to adopt the policy, Boris Johnson agreed with me in his monthly mayor’s question time that the policy was a good one. It all felt a bit surreal, not least as our exchange followed a major row over fire stations earlier in the meeting, but surreal in a good way, rather like free school meals for all is an idea whose time has come.

In Southwark, as in other areas such as Hull, Durham, Islington and Newham where there have been pilots or Labour has introduced the policy of free school meals for all, it is incredibly popular. Parents love it and schools are delighted with the impact it has on behaviour and concentration. Members from all sides within the Labour party locally see the policy working on the ground and pick the aspect that works best for them. Addressing hunger and malnutrition? Preventing diabetes and the massive cost to individuals and the NHS of preventable long term conditions? Ensuring all children get the same food and removing stigma? Saving hard-pressed families hundreds of pounds a year? Results improving by up to four to eight weeks at Key Stage 2?

Take your pick – which one works for you? For me it is the simple truth that hungry children don’t learn and failure to learn means the physical impact of bad diet impacts both on your health and your future life chances.

This really is the ultimate One Nation Labour policy. OR back to ‘education, education, education’. Or both. It doesn’t really matter. It is a policy that works and works for all children but which the evaluation of the Newham and Durham pilots showed has greater benefits for children previously on free school meals (who achieve more).

Today, days ahead of the start of Labour conference, the U-turn is even more dramatic. Now the government has announced hot school lunches for all children in infant schools not at some ethereal point in the future but from next September. Nick Clegg – part of a government responsible for halting further pilots of the policy. We probably shouldn’t be that surprised. Why would Michael Gove have allowed the School Food Plan to praise the policy earlier in the summer if the government was not prepared to consider implementing it? We can criticise for all we like but to be honest we should be flattered. It is the evidence of the policy in action led by Labour, not ideology, that has convinced the coalition government of the need for universality. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery so let’s take the compliment and let’s use this U-turn to build a consensus between the main parties on making sure all children have a decent meal at lunchtime because it is the right thing to do.

At Labour party conference next week, we should take up the implicit challenge and be proud of the fact we have provided the evidence to convince a normally unsympathetic government. Then we should make sure that we go further and commit to introducing the policy to all primary school children (at least). Let’s embrace the announcement and welcome the fact this helps the most deprived children in our society but let’s also say ‘can we have some more?’

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Fiona Twycross AM is a Labour Londonwide assembly member and co-founder of the Labour Campaign for Free School Meals for All. The campaign is holding its formal launch event at Labour party conference, Tuesday 24 September, 5.30 at the Queen’s Hotel. All welcome.

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Photo: Stefan Tan