Nearly all of the South West’s Conservative MPs voted against a Labour motion which would have extended provision of free school meals over the holidays up until next Easter. Just one voted for the Labour motion, with one other abstaining.

There are more than 110,000 children in the South West (and 1.44 million across the country) who are eligible for free school meals, growing up in families in receipt of certain legacy benefits, or Universal Credit below a set income threshold.

Extending free school meals to school holidays until Spring would have seen the equivalent of £15 in additional support to the families of over 1.4 million children in every week of the school holidays, including October half term and Christmas.

Kate Green MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the vote on Labour’s motion to extend free school meals over the holidays, said:

“Boris Johnson and the Conservatives have badly let down more than one million children and their families.

“No child should go hungry over the holidays, but the Government is blocking the action needed to prevent this.

“We pay tribute to Marcus Rashford and others for shining a spotlight on this incredibly important issue. This campaign is not over and the government must reconsider.”

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