Meon Valley MP Says No To Extending Free School Meals Over Holidays

Meon Valley MP Flick Drummond was among the Tory MPs who voted down a move to extend free school meals over school holidays for families facing financial hardship.

Five Tory MPs rebelled against the government to support extending free school meals over the holidays, but Ms Drummond backed her party’s line.

The subject of extra support for children who already receive free school meals during term-time has been in the spotlight due to campaigning by footballer Marcus Rashford who has argued that the number of children with little access to food had grown due to families losing income amid Covid-19 restriction measures.

MPs voted to reject Labour’s motion – which called for free school meals to be offered over the school holidays until Easter 2021 – by 322 votes to 261.

Mr Rashford said: “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 today.

“We must stop stigmatising, judging and pointing fingers – our views are being clouded by political affiliation.”