Margaret Thatcher, milk snatcher

[suityou01]

BBC News - Downing Street rejects child milk scheme cut suggestion

Downing Street has said plans to scrap free milk for under fives will not go ahead, the BBC has learned.

It comes after UK Health Minister Anne Milton set out the proposals in a letter to Scottish Public Health Minister Shona Robison.

A source said Prime Minister David Cameron was not aware of the proposals, according to the BBC's Ross Hawkins.

Labour leadership contender David Miliband had already called the minister's proposal a "cruel cut".

They have learned then.

[shaunbhoy]

When the Conservative party under Edward Heath won the 1970 general election, Thatcher became Secretary of State for Education and Science. In her first months in office, Thatcher came to public attention as a result of the administration of Edward Heath's decision to cut spending. She gave priority to academic needs in schools,[38] and imposed public expenditure cuts on the state education system, resulting in, against her private protests, the abolition of free milk for school-children aged seven to eleven

Just for balance you understand.

HTH

[AtW]

Just for balance you understand.

HTH

Quiet, those private protests - conveniently private, yet recorded in minutes for great use in the future

Taking away milk from children ffs!

[Green Mango]

Quiet, those private protests - conveniently private, yet recorded in minutes for great use in the future

Taking away milk from children ffs!

Well at our school they left the milk out in the sun.

It went sour and most of it went to waste.

These days, how many kids really need it ?

This is not a third world and undernourisment does not appear a problem.

[AtW]

This is not a third world and undernourisment does not appear a problem.

Indeed. Why have milk when you can have a Snickers and Coca Cola?

[Green Mango]

Indeed. Why have milk when you can have a Snickers and Coca Cola?

Thats another issue i.e. bad diet.

I believe the free milk was brought in when there was rationing during and after the war.

It made sense then, but does it still make sense now.

[AtW]

It made sense then, but does it still make sense now.

Does it cost that much in the first place? The negative PR effect of such cuts is much higher than any financial savings, it's better if children drink milk then coca cola anyway.

Having said that I've just finished drinking bottle of diet coke

[HairyArsedBloke]

Does it cost that much in the first place?

Yes, every little helps. As others have said, it is a waste of money.

The negative PR effect of such cuts is much higher than any financial savings, it's better if children drink milk then coca cola anyway.

This is very true. Yes, it is a waste, but the symbolism of 'milk snatcher' lives on. It surprises me that this was ever put forward. Unless, as Guido suggests, it is some form of dirty trick.

However, I don't credit them with the smarts.

[mudskipper]

Think the free milk thing is Scotland only. Don't think kids south of the border get free milk.

[worzelGummidge]

I have changed my mind about the Free milk for school children debate.
I'm from a well spoken middle England family and the idea of free milk does seem just one big waste of money and time, well 95% of the time.

My cousin who is a teacher in a school in one of the less desirable areas recently told me of children coming to school after eating a bag of crisps for breakfast and having last nights cold chips for their packed lunch. Those children are the 5% that would benefit if even to stop them from getting rickets. You can not blame the children for their parents.

In summary, a waste of money for most but so what. They are children and it will do them some good.