Private schools will lose their tax breaks so all primary school children can be given a free school meal if Labour wins power.

Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner will announce today that value added tax will be charged on school fees under the plans which Labour claims will improve the health and results of all children.

The policy to 'end a subsidy to the privileged few' will be announced by Ms Rayner and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn during a visit to Lancashire.

Since 2014, children in reception, Year 1 and Year 2 get free school meals.

Ms Rayner, Labour's shadow education secretary, will say: 'No child in the UK should go hungry at school. By charging VAT on private schools fees, Labour will make sure all primary school children, no matter what their background, get a healthy meal at school.

'The next Labour government will provide all primary school children with a free school meal, invest in our schools, and make sure no child is held back because of their background.'

'The government's cuts to the school budget are making school meals worse and limiting the number of children that can be fed. 'This decision affects the educational attainment and health of pupils. While the Conservatives offer tax giveaways to their billionaire friends, they are cutting the schools budget and threatening the health and futures of all our children by denying children the basic right of a healthy lunch at school. By investing in our education system and providing free school meals for every primary school child, we will remove the stigma attached to free school meals, and improve health and attainment for all children.'

It is estimated that the policy will cost between £700m and £900m.

The left wing think tank The Fabian Society estimated in 2010 that introducing VAT on private school fees could raise around £1.5bn per year.

Currently children whose parents are on benefits such as income support may also be eligible for free school meals beyond the universal early years provision.

Extra funding for smaller schools to help them provide free school meals was stopped meaning some schools said they were struggling to meet the legal requirement to provide meals for early years children last year.