LABOUR leader Jeremy Corbyn wants to impose VAT on private school fees to fund free meals for every child in state primary schools.

Mr Corbyn has announced the pledge in a bid to “end subsidy to the privileged few”.

The tax on private school fees would be used to pay for all primary school pupils to get free lunches. Currently, children get free meals in their first three years of school, and for longer if their parents claim certain benefits.

The aim is to improve the health of pupils in a bid to boost concentration in lessons.

Jerry Glazier, Essex spokesman for the National Union for Teachers, welcomed the move and said it is important for children to have proper nutrition.

He said: “We know that children who eat properly have better concentration and better attainment at school.

“This policy will ensure that all children have one good meal a day, no matter their background.”

James Courtenay, Conservative councillor for children and learning in Southend, said that while the policy looks good on paper, there are problems with it.

He said: “Parents who send their children to private school already pay tax for state education, but they chose not to use it so it unfair to suggest that they don’t support state schools.

“It is not just the super wealthy who send their children to private schools and sometimes it is families where both parents are working full time to be able to send their children there.”

He added that there was no concrete evidence that providing free school meals helps young children’s concentration.

Mr Courtenay said: “I think this is a case of Labour looking for a policy that will be popular, but not really thinking it through.”

The announcement has been seen as an attempt to gain popularity following rows over the party’s poor showing in the opinion polls.

Mr Corbyn pointed to research showing that offering universal access to free school meals improves pupils’ productivity, enabling primary school pupils to advance by around two months on average.

He said: “No child in the UK should go hungry at school. By charging VAT on private school fees, Labour will make sure all primary school children, no matter what their background, get a healthy meal at school.”