The mayor’s 2014 manifesto
The Newham Recorder reports:
Free school meals for some primary school children in Newham could be under threat, a headteachers’ union has warned.
In a letter sent out on behalf of the Newham branch of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) on Friday, parents were told “rising costs and a frozen budget mean tough decisions will have to be taken”.
Union officials wrote that the ‘Eat for Free’ programme was “unsustainable” in part due to a new “transparent” funding formula from the council – calculated on the number of children and meals served – asking schools to foot 60pc of the bill moving forwards.
“Schools will not be able to continue to provide free meals for all junior aged pupils unless the national funding picture changes, or the mayor decides to fully fund his initiative,” the letter stated.
The story quotes Forest Gate South councillor Dianne Walls, a former local primary school headteacher, expressing surprise “as a member of the council” that schools were being asked to pay anything at all.
Councillors kept in the dark, promises broken. I am shocked. Shocked.
forestgatedotnet 
Looks like these kids will now be on the ‘every child a loser’ programme whilst wales maintan his ‘every mayor gets a pension’…
A dispassionate observer might conclude that Robin’s had to bow to financial reality. It happens to all of us. Even if Robin gave up his pension, the financial hole wouldn’t be filled. While acknowledging Robin’s “shortcomings”, let’s not forget the benefits he’s brought to Newham.
A dispassionate observer might conclude that Wales has never bowed to anything either financial or reality, It happens to the rest of us but not him.
If Wales hadn’t taken a pension the ‘financial hole’ might be a little less shallow. While acknowledging Wales’s ‘shortcomings’, (egotism, narcissism, thuggishness etc), let’s not forget the benefits he has brought to Newham, (see short comings).
That comment suggests irrational emotion rather than an objectively critical approach. Maybe you once worked with Robin and he did better than you have!
Would you like to list the benefits he has brought for ordinary people, as I can’t see any? Youth unemployment up, homelessness up, housing waiting list longer than ever, schools still performing badly, etc. There are some rich property owning councillor’s and their ilk who have seen benefits. There are rich pornographers who run football clubs who have seen benefits and a lot of rich, by Newham standards, people who have played the property market so they can educate their kids outside Newham. I am happy to be more open minded but I just cannot see benefits just a lot more public debt and misery.
Roger, your reply suggest irritation at being mocked, rather than an objective critical thought. If wales had ever worked in my field, he wouldn’t have made it to lunchtime.
If doing ‘better’ means being narcissistic, thuggish, etc, l’ll give it a miss.