The First Minister today confirmed that he has ditched the SNP’s manifesto pledge to deliver free school meals for all primary pupils.
John Swinney admitted at FMQs that the policy would not be rolled out to P6 and P7 children in this parliament – contradicting what SNP deputy leader Kate Forbes said on radio earlier.
When questioned by Douglas Ross he said: “We will not be able, in this parliamentary term, to roll out availability on a universal basis across primary 6 and 7 pupils.”
His admission came as he was warned that his vow to eradicate child poverty will join the growing list of SNP broken promises.
Douglas Ross said the central pledge of John Swinney’s Programme for Government was undermined by his decision to ditch the school meals pledge and row back on eliminating the poverty-related attainment gap in education.
The Scottish Conservative leader highlighted criticism of the First Minister’s plans by anti-poverty campaigners.
Fiona King from Save the Children said: “There is nothing in this Programme for Government that truly shifts the dial on child poverty.”
Dr Lindsey MacDonald of Magic Breakfast said: “Far from a manifesto on the eradication of child poverty, this plan will struggle to make a significant dent in the child poverty crisis that Scotland faces.”
Mary Glasgow, the chief executive of Children 1st, said the charity was “deeply concerned that the drastic cuts to public spending will throw many children and families already in crisis over the edge”.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said: “Yesterday John Swinney said ‘eradicating child poverty’ would be the top priority of his government.
“But the experts have no faith in him doing so. And we know why – because the announcements in his Programme for Government fatally undermine that goal.
“When he was Education Secretary, John Swinney announced the policy of free school meals for every primary school pupil in Scotland. It was supposed to happen by 2022, then it was delayed to 2026.
“Yet today John Swinney has confirmed unequivocally that he and his party have shamefully ditched it.
“Eradicating the attainment gap completely was supposed to be the SNP’s number one priority, but it is as wide as ever. Now John Swinney is seeking merely to reduce the attainment gap – and even that looks beyond his government.
“For 17 years this SNP government has over-promised and under-delivered for Scotland’s children.
“This week’s Programme for Government was supposed to be John Swinney’s big relaunch. But, instead, it’s more of the same from an SNP Government that is out of ideas and out of ambition.
“Scotland’s children deserve far better than broken promises from John Swinney.”