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Starmer Apologises After Joining Pupils in Banned '6-7' Meme During School Visit

The visit promoted a plan to extend free school meals to children in families on universal credit.

Overview

  • The prime minister took part in the '6-7' gesture during a reading session at Welland Academy in Peterborough on Monday.
  • Headmistress Jo Anderson told him the trend is prohibited at the school, prompting his apology and the remark, "I didn’t start it, Miss."
  • Starmer was accompanied by Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson as they highlighted the expansion of free school meals.
  • He said the rollout would cover children in households on universal credit, adding roughly 500,000 more pupils starting in September 2026.
  • Teachers say the meme disrupts lessons and some schools penalise its use, with the trend traced to Skrilla’s song 'Doot Doot (6 7)' and viral videos.