THE free school breakfast debate has split local politicians as the 1,000th school joined the Welsh Assembly Government scheme.
Free school breakfasts started across Wales in 2004 - at a cost of £8million a year - to ensure the poorest children did not start the school day hungry.
Last week Ann Jones AM for the Vale of Clwyd joined Welsh Labour Leader and First Minister, Carwyn Jones in welcoming the 1,000th school to join the scheme and called to stop 'cereal killer tories’ ‘stealing free school breakfasts'.
Last year Ms Jones branded rival AM Darren Millar the ‘breakfast baddie’ for claiming free breakfasts for children were a waste of public funds.
"First Thatcher stole the children's milk and now Millar the cereal killer is trying to take the rest of the breakfast away!” said Mrs Jones.
Mr Millar hit back claiming it was a 'wasteful gimmick' and scrapping it would release cash to provide discounts for pensioner households.
But now Ms Jones has blasted: "I am amazed that the Tories have the nerve to threaten a scheme that helps so many young children in Wales.
“With 1,000 schools taking part it’s clear to see that this scheme is needed. A healthy start to the day is immeasurably better than a hungry one and its what every child deserves! If the Tories don’t agree then it’s clear that they’re still not fit to govern.
“It’s simple – free breakfasts help children concentrate in school, helping them to get the most out of the day’s lessons.”
Official figures show that out of 65 schools in Denbighshire, 36 take part in the free breakfast initiative.
Matt Wright, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for the Vale of Clwyd said the scheme is costing far more than anybody predicted and it's the parents responsibility to feed their children.
He said: "Ann Jones should avoid spin and smear and concentrate on why her party has wrecked our economy and under funded schools such that the average spend per pupil in Wakes is £527 less than in England and many buildings are in disrepair."
He said the scheme should be targeted at kids that really need it and evidence from the WAG shows that is not happening.
David Jones, Tory MP for Clwyd West said: "Children should have breakfast at home with their parents, I think most parents would agree with that.
“If there are financial problems then it probably does have some use but it does not replace the important ritual of eating at home.”
Mr Jones said although 1,000 schools have joined up it would be interesting to see what the individual take up in each school is.
"We are living in such a strange world these days people eat at different times and the important social ritual of eating together is rapidly being abondoned, anything that undermines that is a very bad idea."
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