Marcus Rashford Pushes For Another Government U-turn

Pressure mounts on the government to reverse its decision regarding free school meals over the holidays in England.

On Wednesday, several Conservative MPs rejected Labour’s motion to extend free school meals by 322 votes to 261, with five Tory MPs rebelling. The Government have commented saying it has given councils £62m for families across England that are facing financial difficulties due to pandemic restrictions, they have also stated they’ve increased welfare support by £9.3bn.

Since the news broke, hundreds of cafes, restaurants and local councils have come together to help feed children facing poverty during the October half-term. In addition, more than 2,000 paediatricians who work alongside young people have signed a letter saying England should follow Wales, Northern Ireland and Wales in providing meals during the holidays.

Labour has continued to add force on to the issue if the government does not change its position before Christmas half-term.  Rashford also tweeted to regarding the “unacceptable” abuse some MPs had received for voting against the motion.

Two Conservative MPs commented on the issue on Twitter, but were “taken out of context” after their remarks were criticised.

Ben Bradley said that “one kid lives in a crack den, another in a brothel”. A Twitter user replied, saying that “£20 cash direct to a crack den and a brothel sounds like the way forward with this one”, to which Bradley replied: “That’s what free school meal vouchers in the summer effectively did…”

Bradley later deleted the tweet and said the tweet, had been “totally taken out of context”.

Another, Conservative MP, Selaine Saxby, also deleted a Facebook post where she hoped businesses who were giving away food for free “will not be seeking any further government support”.