Concerns have been raised that more than 10,000 children living in poverty in the Bradford district will miss out on free school meals as a result of Government rule changes.

Bradford East MP Imran Hussain said children are “bearing the brunt of this Government’s ideological austerity drive”.

However, the Government has said the changes will actually help 50,000 more children across the UK benefit from free school meals.

From April 1, an earnings threshold of £7,400 will be imposed for families on Universal Credit to be eligible for free school meals. The current threshold is £16,190 for parents working 16 hours or less a week.

Research from the Children’s Society has said 97,000 children in Yorkshire will be affected by the changes, including 10,100 in Bradford, the third highest number in Yorkshire.

The figures relate to numbers following the full roll out of Universal Credit.

Mr Hussain said the changes may mean some families will fall into a “free school meals poverty trap”.

He said: “The Prime Minister has found money to exempt Northern Ireland from free school meal rule changes to keep herself in power, but she cannot seem to find it for Bradford and other deprived cities.

“Once again it is innocent children who are bearing the brunt of this Government’s ideological austerity drive that has done nothing but drive down the standard of living, crushed economic growth and caused stagnating wages

“It is high time that the Government stopped punishing children and started investing in their future.

“Work is supposed to be the surest way out of poverty, but the Government’s decision to impose this earnings threshold and create a cliff-edge means that many families are better off working fewer hours unless they can substantially increase their earnings to recoup the costs of meals for their children.”

Batley & Spen MP Tracy Brabin added: “This callous and cruel move by the Government could be the difference between a hot meal and going hungry for children across Batley and Spen and beyond.”

A Government spokesperson said: “This result means that around 50,000 more children will benefit from free school meals by 2022.

“It’s right that we continue to support the most disadvantaged children and our changes – which we consulted on – will mean that all children currently receiving a free meal will continue to do so.

“This government will be spending more than any previous government on childcare, and millions of families will get the support they need.”

Cllr David Ward, Lib Dem and Independent group spokesperson for education on Bradford Council, said: “It is a colossal error almost verging on child neglect.

“The way children from deprived backgrounds are being treated - and there will be more - could almost be described as child neglect and we cannot keep talking about inequality in society without discussing poverty and child poverty specifically.

“Free school meals ensured deprived children got a nutritious meals each day.”

Cllr Debbie Davies, Conservative group spokesperson for education on Bradford Council, asked for clarity on the figures, and added concern that “scaremongering could be scaring some families who might think they will be affected by this”.

No one from Bradford Council could be reached for a comment.