LABOUR and the Liberal Democrats have called on the Government to save free school meals for all children under seven.

Reports suggest Conservative ministers are ready to scrap the £600 million scheme, a Lib Dem flagship policy the then-Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg claimed would help “restore the people’s faith” in his party, but critics condemned it as a pre-election gimmick and a “total car crash” after schools had to divert cash from the classrooms to cover the costs.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesman dismissed the latest reports, in several national newspapers, as mere speculation, saying government had committed £1 billion to the project.

However, MPs and councillors in County Durham, where the last Labour government ran a £16 million trial offering free lunches to all primary school children – that was scrapped by the Coalition within months of the 2010 election - are demanding the initiative be protected.

Durham City Labour MP Roberta Blackman-Woods, who played a key role in County Durham securing the Labour pilot, said she was “incredibly disappointed” universal free meals could be scrapped.

She said hot school meals boosted health and wellbeing and capacity to learn, adding: “I am dismayed not only with the Conservative government for planning to scrap this, but also the Liberal Democrats for not going far enough during the Coalition in producing a properly funded scheme.”

Pat Glass, Labour MP for North-West Durham, added: “It would be a real shame; and the money is going to increase the number of free schools around the country, which we know from our experience in Durham is not a successful project.”

Liberal Democrat councillor Mark Wilkes has started an online petition, which Mrs Glass dismissed as “posturing”, but Councillor Wilkes said: “If this petition gets enough signatures she will be able to challenge the government in a parliamentary debate. I hope she signs.”

The Labour pilot increased school meal take-up to 90 per cent of primary school pupils.

A DfE spokesman said: “We believe every child, regardless of their background, should have the same opportunities.

“That is at the heart of what we are doing with school food – no child should be hindered because they are not eating a nutritious meal at lunchtime.

“We have provided significant financial support to schools to help them deliver universal infant free school meals. We have come a long way and the new School Food Standards mean pupils of all ages are eating good food that sows the seeds for healthy eating for life.”