As well as using it to ignite a war of words with Donald Trump, Mayor of London Sadiq Khan used his Letter To My Younger Self interview with Big Issue to explain how universal free school meals shaped his life.
Khan, who marked 10 years as mayor earlier this month, told us how different policies he has introduced in London have come from his own lived experience: from funding youth clubs to the new extension to ‘Hopper fares’ which will be launched on London’s buses this summer.
But Khan revealed it was growing up seeing the difference a meal made at school that inspired him to act in power.
Khan said: “I vividly remember receiving free school meals. At break time, when my mates were playing football, I had to queue to get a token for my free meal. It was embarrassing. And that shame and stigma stayed with me. When I came became mayor, I saw that there are kids going hungry, parents doing three jobs to make ends meet and skipping meals, packed lunches that aren’t nutritious because they can’t afford it. And that these kids are underperforming.
“When my chief of staff said, we can probably afford to do something about this, I was clear free school meals were to be universal. It’s really important for all kids to eat together. So I was incredibly proud when we brought in universal free nutritious meals for every kid that goes to a state primary school. The best policy comes from a combination of your values and evidence.”
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