An MP has welcomed news that all children with parents on Universal Credit can get free school meals from September 2026.

Liz Jarvis, the Eastleigh MP, has been campaigning for this change in Parliament.

She said: "I’ve been pushing for this in Parliament along with my Lib Dem colleagues so I welcome this move from the Government as a step in the right direction.

"It’s a victory for all the thousands of campaigners and families that the Government has finally listened."

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MP Jarvis, who held a debate in March calling for free school meals for all children in poverty, said: "In Eastleigh, 21 per cent of children are living in poverty.

"So this can only be a first step."

She further called on the Government to auto-enrol eligible children for free school meals, lift the two-child benefit cap and limit uniform costs to truly help those in poverty.

She added: "Their lives will be transformed by this change."