Newham councillors have voted to back a motion calling for a comprehensive assessment into the feasibility of providing universal free school meals for all secondary school pupils in the borough, a move prompted by the borough's high child poverty rates.
The decision, made at a council meeting on Monday 13 July 2026, followed a passionate debate where members highlighted the pressures of the cost of living crisis on families and the proven benefits of nutritious food for children's health and educational attainment. Newham has one of the highest levels of child poverty in the country, with around one in every two children living in poverty after housing costs.
The motion, proposed by Councillor Sophia Naqvi and seconded by Councillor Muhammad Majeed, noted Newham's significant child poverty rates and drew parallels with the success of similar initiatives in neighbouring Tower Hamlets. Tower Hamlets, under Mayor Lutfur Rahman, has successfully implemented universal free school meals for secondary school pupils, demonstrating that such a policy is both achievable and deliverable when political priorities align with residents' needs. The delivery of this policy in Tower Hamlets represented an investment of £5.7m.
While a precise cost for Newham is yet to be determined, a somewhat larger investment would likely be needed in Newham owing to our larger population
compared to Tower Hamlets' £5.7m expenditure. Councillors resolved to undertake a full assessment of the financial and operational requirements, explore funding sources, and engage with stakeholders to develop a delivery plan. The council will explore all available funding sources, including existing budgets, external grants, partnerships, and efficiency savings to support implementation.
Key stakeholders the council plans to engage with include schools, parents, governors, and other relevant parties to develop a borough-wide delivery plan. A detailed report will be brought back to the council outlining the costs, benefits, implementation options, and a proposed timetable for delivering universal free school meals to all secondary school pupils in Newham.
An amendment proposed by Councillor Ren Tilbury, which sought to prioritise funding for free school meals above all other new schemes or revenue decreases, was defeated. A further amendment from the Labour Group was also defeated. The substantive motion, however, passed with 24 abstentions.
