A pensioner has voiced frustration about parents “who can’t be bothered” to feed their children getting access to free breakfast clubs, while she struggles to heat her own home.
Linda Findley, who retired this year after working for 61 years, had her winter fuel payment cut as she exceeded the income threshold.
She now only occasionally turns on her heating, despite believing she deserves a comfortable retirement after her long working life.
While expressing understanding for breakfast clubs in schools, Findley questioned whether some parents are taking proper responsibility for their children’s nutrition.
Findley questioned whether some parents are taking proper responsibility for their children’s nutrition.
GB News
Speaking to GB News, Findley said: “I’ve just retired this year after working for 61 years. I deserve a comfortable retirement.
“I’m not against children having breakfast clubs. Children learn much better on a full stomach, although it should really be the responsibility of the parents.
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“I don’t think some of them can be bothered, to be honest. They probably think they can’t afford it.
“But there are ways of giving people food. Don’t buy takeaways, don’t go to the chip shop because it’s far too expensive.
“I seldom have a takeaway because it’s just a treat and it’s far too expensive. I cook everything from scratch.”
Labour has announced plans to roll out primary school breakfast clubs across the UK, starting with 750 schools for year-long pilot schemes.
Labour’s breakfast club has been set up to feed children before school
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The initiative will eventually expand to cover 16,764 primary schools nationwide, funded through a fairness tax.
The programme aims to ensure that every pupil begins their day with breakfast, benefiting 93 per cent of children across working and middle-class families.
According to Labour, the breakfast clubs represent “the start of a social revolution” that will improve life chances for all children.
The scheme is designed to help pupils concentrate better in class, with hungry students currently struggling to focus on their studies.
Linda Findley discussed her struggles to heat her home
GB News
The initiative is part of Labour’s broader vision to rebuild a “wraparound welfare state” to benefit the nation.
Speaking about her struggles to heat her home, Linda Findley said: “I’m certainly careful with it.
“I’m slightly over the limit to get the credit, so I have been just having my heating on for a couple of hours a day, and a couple of hours in the evening and then that’s it.”