George Osborne is turning his attention to his November spending review, and free school lunches for infants could be scrapped. To provide free hot meals for all schoolchildren between four and seven, regardless of their parents’ income, was a policy introduced under the coalition government by former deputy prime minister Nick Clegg. Despite an election promise to keep this policy, it is under threat as the Chancellor looks to reduce government expenditure across Whitehall, Sky News reports. The suggestion has attracted criticism from a variety of groups, who say that healthy school meals are essential for children's wellbeing. Tim Farron, a Christian and leader of the Liberal Democrats, said: 'All evidence suggests that children who have a school meal every day are two months further on in their studies than those who don't. To take away the policy is damaging to children, it's an insult to our schools.’

Campaign group Equal and Free has launched a website highlighting the impact of sharia law on UK women. Sharia discriminates against women and girls, and the site carries true stories of women who have faced such discrimination. Although women from any faith tradition, or none, may suffer abuse and problems associated with dysfunctional families, the plight of those in Islamic communities is exacerbated by the application of established sharia law principles which inherently discriminate against women and girls. Forms of such discrimination include inequality in access to divorce (for men it is often effectively free and unconditional), polygamy (practised by men with multiple ‘wives’ and numerous children), discriminatory child custody policies and inheritance laws, and the implicit sanctioning of domestic violence. The online resource also explains and promotes a bill introduced by Baroness Cox, due to be debated in the House of Lords on 23 October, that seeks to tackle these challenges.

English and French bishops took part in a 'Welcome Refugee' day of action in Calais, while other UK church leaders returned from meeting thousands fleeing conflict on the Greek-Macedonian border. The Roman Catholic Archbishop of Southwark and the Anglican Bishop of Dover joined the Bishop of Arras and 2,000 supporters from England, Ireland, the Netherlands, Germany and other countries in Calais. With winter looming for the camp's inhabitants, the leaders issued a joint statement encouraging people of all faiths to help. A participant at the day of action said she saw only one water source in the camp and eight portaloos, adding that the place was disorganised and ungoverned. Other than a small understaffed centre there are no official structures in place, and the limited number of volunteers ‘struggle to cope’ with the job of sorting and distributing donations. Anglican priest Rev Tim Clapton said the refugees found the Christian delegation an encouragement.

A Gospel singer from Camden, London, has made it through to the next stages of the televised X Factor competition. Over the weekend Jennifer Phillips, 49, made it through the Boot Camp phase of the show. When she performed Mary Mary's Shackles,her rendition of the classic got the whole crowd up on their feet, including the judges - with the exception of Simon Cowell. Lyrics of the gospel song include ‘Been through the fire and the rain. Bound in every kind of way. But God has broken every chain.’ The final episode will be aired before Christmas and the winner will release their own original track. The next show will be aired this weekend on ITV. Another church-inspired group, BEKLN, is also doing well. The five members met in the London Community Gospel Choir, and have been praised on the show for the harmonies they have been delivering.