Genuinely finding it hard to understand why the govt digging its heels on on free school meals. Sums involved small in context of broader pandemic support spending, opposition reinforces toxic elements of Con reputation and undermines credibility of their "levelling up" claims
So considerable downside risks - reptuational damage, no cohoerent rationale for the opposition, potential for substantial backbench revolt. What's the upside?
The sums of money involved mean it makes no sense for this to be about sums saved. But what political gains are there to be had by being opposed to school children getting one meal a day? Is that really the best route to demonstrate you still believe in fiscal discipline?
So now they’ve U turned. Better to shift than not, but the political logic was no less obvious yesterday than today. So why did the govt resist it? Very puzzling.
