I am pleased that beleaguered Prime Minister Theresa May has at least had the decency to abandon her Government’s spiteful plan to take away free children’s lunches in schools.

The introduction of universal free school lunches for our youngest pupils was an innovation of the Liberal Democrats when they were the junior partner in the Coalition Government – and it is an achievement that I and my fellow Liberal Democrats are proud to defend.

For many children from poorer families, a hot lunch in the school day is the only nutritious meal that they are likely to enjoy and there is plenty of evidence that children who are nutritiously fed perform better in the classroom and that their behaviour improves.

Furthermore sitting together for a school lunch means children interact in an enjoyable collective activity that helps improve their social skills and teaches them the importance of nutrition.

School meals help kids stay strong and stable – it is a pity that some Tories have failed to appreciate that.