The First Minister has been told not to u-turn on a commitment to extending free school meals to all primary pupils.

Humza Yousaf suggested he could abandon the pledge to expand eligibility to p6 and p7 pupils.

He said he didn’t think it was the right way to use money to tackle poverty.

Speaking after the anti-poverty summit he convened he said "I've got a 14-year-old now.

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“Should people be paying for her free school meals when I earn a First Minister's salary?

"I don't think that's the right way to use that money. A better way is to target those that need it absolutely the most."

The comments have left anti-poverty campaigners and trade unions urging the First Minister not to roll back on the commitment, made under Nicola Sturgeon’s government.

Peter Kelly, director of Poverty Alliance, attended the summit.

He said: “The First Minister has to recognise the injustice that leaves so many children in Scotland hungry and without food they need.

“With figures from the Trussell Trust showing record numbers of families accessing food banks, this is not the time to roll back on commitments relating to free school meals.

“We know that many low-income families just miss out on qualifying for means-tested free school meals, and many others don’t claim because of shame or stigma.

“The best way to tackle this problem is through universal free school meals that benefit all of our children and young people.”

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Unite union has been leading a “feed the weans” campaign around free school meals and said they understood they had the First Minister’s support for expansion.

Unite Senior Organiser Joe Rollin said: “This looks like a screeching hand brake turn. We are calling on the First Minister to honour his commitment and remove means-testing for all primary school children for school meals. 

“Workers across Scotland are suffering from real terms pay cuts. Rising food prices are making the situation worse. Families need more support from this Government. And they need it now.”