Bridget Phillipson 'frustrated' landmark breakfast clubs moment could be overshadowed
EXCLUSIVE: Labour will mark 10 million free breakfasts being served to kids in new clubs across England, easing the cost of living and the stress of morning childcare on parents
Bridget Phillipson has said it is “frustrating” that important policies are being crowded out by Westminster noise about Labour leadership speculation or the Peter Mandelson scandal.
The Education Secretary will on Wednesday celebrate 10 million free breakfasts being served to kids in new clubs across England, easing the cost of living and the stress of morning childcare on parents.
But the landmark moment comes against the backdrop of a divided Labour, with Wes Streeting and Andy Burnham both vying to replace Keir Starmer.
Asked by The Mirror whether she was annoyed good work was being overshadowed by leadership chatter or the Mandelson saga, Ms Phillipson said: “It is frustrating that the really important measures that we're delivering for families do get crowded out amongst the noise about what goes on in Westminster and I'm really proud that this Labour government is on course to lift the biggest number of children out of poverty in any Parliament ever.
“We're doing that by ending the two-child limit, but also by expanding free school meals from September to all families on Universal Credit, that is going to make such a big difference.
“I know The Mirror have long campaigned for an expansion of free school meals to make sure that children are able to learn and have got a nutritious meal... but alongside that, we've also massively expanded childcare that puts £8,000 back into the pockets of families.”
The Cabinet minister also said it was “disappointing” that Mr Streeting - who quit as Health Secretary last month - had announced plans to revive New Labour’s Sure Start centres as part of his shadow leadership campaign.
She said: “It's disappointing because I worked closely with Wes on rolling out Best Start Family Hubs, and I think what we're delivering right now with Best Start Family Hubs absolutely draws on the best evidence and the best experiences that we had of Sure Start, but recognises how the world has changed and that parenting now in 2026 is different to parenting in 2010.”
Elsewhere Ms Phillipson - who was speaking after a visit to a breakfast club in north London - said it was “extraordinary” Reform UK supports tax breaks for private schools but not free breakfast clubs.
She said: “Reform seems to think that the job of government is just to get out of the way, whereas I think government should be stepping in to help parents and families at a time when it's still really tough for people, and it shows that Reform have got entirely the wrong set of priorities that they want to hand a tax break to some of the wealthiest families in our country, yet want to strip away support in for breakfast clubs.”
Nigel Farage's party's central policy on breakfast clubs is unclear but senior Reform figures have criticised the scheme. Linden Kemkaran, the leader of Reform’s flagship Kent Council Council, came under fire last month after saying it is “parents’ job” to start their kids' days right.
The Government has vowed that all state primary schools will have a free breakfast club by 2029.
The flagship scheme has already benefitted more than 300,000 children across 1,250 clubs, saving families up to ÂŁ450 and 95 hours a year.
On Wednesday, Ms Phillipson will write to all schools in England to set out progress on the rollout over the next two years.
It comes after Rachel Reeves unveiled the Great British Summer Saving scheme, cutting VAT on children's meals, theatre and cinema tickets, and family attractions, and providing free bus travel for children aged five to 15 throughout August.
