Pandemic has left 80 per cent of low-income families in a worse financial position than before the crisis, a new report has found.

Calls to extend free meals to all families who are in receipt of universal credit or working tax credit 

The current threshold for free school meals is too low, it leaves many hard-working families, who earn just slightly above the cut off, but often still living in poverty, having to find the money to cover their child’s food during the school day.

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But in a change of direction, Mr Johnson announced a new package of measures in a belated effort to address public anger — a petition demanding extra funding garnered more than 1m signatures — as well as criticism from many of his own MPs, who have been targeted since voting against an opposition motion last month to extend free school meals. The prime minister spoke to Mr Rashford on Saturday evening to announce the government would supply £400m of additional funding to assist with food and activities for children throughout the winter. The package includes £170m that will be distributed throughout local councils between December and March, most of which is ringfenced for food assistance. A further £16m will be spent on improving food banks and £220m will be invested in a school holiday food and activities programme.

With job uncertainty, reduced hours, and redundancy as a result of the coronavirus crisis, many families re now struggling more than ever.

set to dramatically increase in the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic

Boris Johnson has committed to spending £400m on food support for the poorest children in England in another policy U-turn following a public campaign by prominent footballer