I WAS pleased to see Labour's 2017 election manifesto. It has certainly attracted widespread interest following its early release.

There are some bold positive policies which will appeal to many working class voters. The proposed tax raid on private schools could help to fund free school dinners for low income families. Readers may not be aware of the controversy surrounding the current exemption of VAT on private school fees. Labour is right to axe this exemption with a clear policy designed to help working families and directly benefit primary school children.

Labour shadow education secretary, Angela Rayner has cited research from the National Centre for Social Research and the Institute for Fiscal Studies which shows that offering access to free school meals as a universal entitlement, can significantly improve pupils’ performance and allow them to advance by “around two months on average”. No child in the UK should go hungry at school. By charging VAT on private schools fees, Labour can make sure primary school children get a healthy meal at school.

In 2004 the Blair government tightened the law with the introduction of a “public benefit test”, under which fee-paying schools had to do more to justify the retention of tax breaks in return for contributing to the common good. I am really pleased that Labour wants to go even further. While the Conservatives offer tax breaks to their billionaire friends, they are cutting schools budget and threatening the health and futures of all our children by denying children the basic right of a healthy lunch at school. Significant investment in our education system and providing free school meals for every primary school child, would help to remove the stigma attached to free school meals, and improve health and attainment for all children.

Joan Pritchard-Jones

Bolton