Tesco has confirmed that its popular meal deal will increase in price from Thursday, with the cost rising to £3.85 for Clubcard holders and £4.25 for non-members. The move has sparked widespread criticism online and drawn political condemnation.
Liberal Democrat MP for Maidenhead, Joshua Reynolds, branded the price rise a "national outrage" on social media platform X. His comments followed a distraught shopper's post describing the increase as "truly devastating".
Numerous social media users have expressed anger, with some calling for the issue to be raised in parliament. One user commented: "This deserves to be mentioned in PMQs." Another said: "This is one of the very few times the Lib Dems have called for the recall of parliament, I can get behind."
The price change follows an earlier increase in August 2024, when the cost rose from £3.40 to £3.60 for Clubcard holders and from £3.90 to £4 for non-members. A Tesco spokesperson defended the new pricing, stating: "Our meal deal remains great value and the ideal way to grab lunch on-the-go at just £3.85 for a main, snack and drink when bought with a Clubcard."
However, many customers feel let down, with some threatening to boycott the meal deal. One user lamented: "Take me back to the days of the £3 Tesco meal deal, what an absolute scam this country has become." Another added: "They're not meal deals anymore, just meals."
The price rise comes amid broader inflationary pressures. The Office for National Statistics reported that Consumer Prices Index inflation rose to 3.6% in June, the highest level since January 2024.
