Daily roundup 5 June: Struggling families, One Love, and secret donor

Labour will aim to help tens of millions of people who are struggling on lower incomes by cutting the rate of VAT if it wins the general election, the shadow chancellor John McDonnell has said. The Observer reports that the new pledge will involve the use the proceeds of future growth to reduce VAT from its current 20 per cent level.


An image of a policeman dancing with children at the Manchester One Love concert on Sunday night has gone viral on social media. The Telegraph reports that the moment was captured during Justin Bieber's performance at the benefit concert at Old Trafford.


A secret donor has handed youth services in Somerset an "emotional" boost after handing over £10,000. The North Somerset Times reports that the person donated the sum towards Yatton Youth Club's £50,000 renovation appeal in order to improve facilities.


Lunch breaks are being cut short, minority subjects are being dropped and parents have even been asked to pay for basic cooking ingredients as part of attempts by schools across the country to cover for shortfalls in funding. Analysis by The Guardian has found that head teachers have been resorting to desperate measures to save money as budgets are squeezed - and are forced to make increasing demands, often on parents, to plug the gap.


The lack of investment in school libraries is a "blight on the intellectual development and creative future of children", children's laureate Chris Riddell has said. The Bookseller reports that, in a final statement before handing over his laureateship on 7 June, Riddell called on the next government to urgently address children's rights issues.