Marcus Rashford 'dismayed' as MPs vote down free school meals extension
Joe Lepper
Thursday, October 22, 2020
MPs have voted against extending free school meals to disadvantaged children outside of term time despite a campaign by the Labour Party and footballer Marcus Rashford.
An oppostion motion from the Labour Party called for free school meals to be extended outside of term time until April 2021 following a high-profile campaign by Rashford.
The motion was rejected by 322 to 261 after being opposed by the Conservative government.
Among those to vote against the motion were Education Secretary Gavin Williamson and children's minister Vicky Ford.
During the summer school holidays free school meals had been extended to disadvantaged families, following a government U-turn due to public pressure from Rashford.
“But we are in a different position now that we have welcomed all pupils back to school,” Williamson told MPs.
He added: “Free school meals are, and always have been, about supporting children with a meal to help them to learn when they are at school or, indeed, currently at home learning.”
He said that outside of term time families are already supported through universal credit and other benefits.
Conservative MP for Bassetlaw, Brendan Clarke-Smith, said he objected to extending free school meals out of term time because “I do not believe in nationalising children”.
He added, in reference to Rashford’s campaigning around child poverty, that “instead we need to get back to the idea of taking responsibility".
"That means less celebrity virtue signalling on Twitter by proxy and more action to tackle the real causes of child poverty."
Labour MPs, including party leader Keir Starmer, have voiced their concern about the effect the vote will have on disadvantaged children. Starmer said the government is “letting children go hungry this half term and over Christmas”.
Last night the Conservatives voted against extending #FreeSchoolMeals.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 22, 2020
They're letting children go hungry this half term and over Christmas. pic.twitter.com/X2PA2mQqlc
Meanwhile, Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner questioned how those who voted against the motion will “sleep tonight”.
How does it feel @BorisJohnson and every @Conservatives MP who voted against feeding Cameron and his sisters and 1.4m other kids?
— 🌈 Angela Rayner 🌈 (@AngelaRayner) October 21, 2020
I don't know how you'll sleep tonight. https://t.co/dTOJ4dpPWk
Conservative MP for Eastbourne Caroline Ansell has resigned from the government after backing Labour’s amendment.
The former parliamentary private secretary with the Department of Food and Rural Affairs was one of five Conservative MPs to rebel against her party.
"In these unprecedented times, I am very concerned to be doing all we can to help lower-income families and their children who are really struggling due to the impact of the virus," said Ansell.
"Therefore, last night, I voted for Labour’s motion on extending free school meal vouchers until after Easter 2021 for those families in receipt of Universal Credit or an equivalent benefit."
She added: “Due to my decision not to support the government in this debate, I have resigned as a parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs."
Following last night’s vote Rashford urged people to “put aside all the noise, the digs, the party politics and let’s focus on the reality”.
He added: “A significant number of children are going to bed tonight not only hungry but feeling like they do not matter because of comments that have been made”.
“We must stop stigmatising, judging and point fingers,” he added.
He has asked the Prime Minister to take urgent action to address food poverty among children.
Rashford’s parliamentary petition around extending free school meals has gained around 320,000 signatutres.
Time we worked together. pic.twitter.com/xFPsgBiPQC
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
The sector hit out at the result of the vote with Children's Food Campaign Coordinator Barbara Crowther saying: “We are profoundly dismayed that parliament has rejected the motion to provide food support to vulnerable children during forthcoming school holidays.
"We thank all the MPs who spoke up for children today. We had hoped Parliament would unite, as this is not the time for children living in food insecurity to be used as political footballs.
"Our campaign has the support of directors of public health, head teachers, children’s organisations, food networks, school caterers and national education unions, as well as hundreds of thousands of parents, young people and teachers. We will not give up campaigning for all children’s rights to food. We hope the Government will reconsider and make its own decision now to unite with Wales and Scotland in supporting children through to Easter 2021, as well as move to adopt the longer term recommendations in the National Food Strategy.”
Food povery charity Fare Share said on Twitter: "Thank you Marcus Rashford for all the amazing work you are doing. Thousands of families will struggle to put food on the table this Christmas and we will continue doing all we can to help."
MPs' vote not to extend #FreeSchoolsMeals means millions of children could go hungry next week.
— Save the Children UK (@savechildrenuk) October 22, 2020
We are helping families - but it's not enough.
We need a sustainable solution. 👊
Ask your MP for a #WinterPlanForChildren 👇https://t.co/XXfcT9TvMK#UniversalCredit
Earlier this week more than 30 education leaders wrote to ministers urging them to back an extension to free school meals.