The Mirror and the National Education Union are calling for every primary school pupil to receive free school lunches to ensure no child goes hungry.
During an event organised by the Mirror and the National Education Union (NEU), Hodgson said: "It's the best poverty alleviation method that there is to feed children in schools. Feeding every child benefits every child. It's just a no brainer. So it just blows my mind how it's so obvious when you even just start the talk about it.
“That has to be our mantra, if we're serious about social mobility - and we are - and raising the next generation up and out of poverty - which we are - then we have to bring in universal free school meals. It's a tried and tested mechanism, we all know it'll make real tangible change in the homes and hearts of all children everywhere."