Â鶹ԼÅÄ

Â鶹ԼÅÄ Newsnight has learned that the UK government is set to give extra money to councils to extend Henry Dimbleby’s food clubs, a food programme which was trialled in England’s most deprived local authority areas.

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has defended his refusal to extend free school meals for children in England over the half-term holiday, saying he was "very proud" of the government's support so far.

He said the government will "do everything in our power to make sure that no kid, no child goes hungry".

As pressure has risen on the Prime Minister, including from his own Conservative MPs, to rethink the issue, communities, cafes, local businesses and neighbours are stepping up — and shelling out — to fill a hole government policy has
left.

What effect is this having on the UK’s most vulnerable children?

Newsnight understands the government will adapt a pilot scheme from the summer — led by restauranteur Henry Dimbleby, who now leads the government’s National Food Strategy — to provide a Christmas holiday food programme. Is this enough to tackle the problem of holiday hunger and food poverty?

Newsnight’s Political Editor, Nick Watt, and Policy Editor, Lewis Goodall report.

Show less