The Scottish Greens have been accused of betraying children after voting against a rollout of free school meals.
Party MSPs rejected the proposals even though they fought the Holyrood election backing the policy.
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “This staggering u-turn is a stomach punch to everyone who voted Green thinking they’d stand by their own manifesto promises.
“Their true colours have been revealed and we can now see the Scottish Greens are a pale imitation of the party they claimed to be.”
School meals are free between primary 1 to 5, but are means-tested for older pupils.
Campaigners like the STUC have called for the policy to be extended to all state school pupils, including at secondary level.
Lennon tabled an amendment to the Good Food Nation bill yesterday which would have implemented the STUC’s call.
However, opposition from the Greens and the SNP, who share power in the Government, scuppered the plan.
At Holyrood yesterday, the Greens claimed the plan as drafted could see wealthier families benefit.
Party MSP Ariane Burgess said: “It would introduce a blanket approach to free school meals provision, including providing food to people who attend fee-paying schools at which, arguably, there is not a need for such provision.”
In their manifesto last year, the Greens stated: “The Scottish Greens have already secured funding for free school meals for low income children during the holidays and the expansion of free school meals for all primary children. We will further expand this to secondary pupils.”
It added: “Introduce universal breakfast clubs. All schools will be supported to provide a free breakfast to those who want or need it.”
Lennon hit out: “It’s a betrayal that many won’t forget in a hurry. During a cost-of-living-crisis, politicians should be doing everything possible to ensure children don’t go hungry. The pathetic excuses from the Greens let the SNP off the hook. Scotland deserves better.
“The Greens picked holes in the proposal when they could have put forward a plan themselves.
“Politics can be a dirty business, however, the Scottish Greens have betrayed workers and children by turning their backs on a campaign that they promised to honour.”
Scottish Tory MSP Meghan Gallacher said: “This is shameful rowing back from the Greens. Their principles have clearly gone out the window as soon as they joined up with their SNP friends in government.
“They’ve decided that joining in party politics and backing their nationalist coalition partners is more important than feeding schoolchildren during a cost-of-living crisis.
“Voters won’t let the Greens forget in a hurry that they decided to go against a manifesto promise they were elected upon.”
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