, Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, has called for
an apology after Government Minister attempted
to justify the Conservatives' opposition to Labour's motion to
extend free school meals during holidays by saying that children
have been going hungry for years.
Today (Wednesday 21 October) Labour will force a vote in the
House of Commons on the issue of free school meals. Labour’s
motion calls for the provision of free school meals to be
extended over each school holiday from October half term to
Easter 2021. But without the support of Conservative
backbenchers, support will be withdrawn ahead of next week’s half
term.
, Labour's Shadow Education Secretary, said:
"This is a slap in the face for families struggling to make ends
meet.
"Rising child poverty and more families going hungry is the
shameful legacy of the Conservatives’ decade in power.
"Paul Scully should apologise for his disgraceful comment and
Conservative MPs should do something about this injustice by
supporting Labour's plan to ensure no child goes hungry over
Christmas."
Ends
Notes to Editors
Transcript from Politics Live:
: My question is simple. Do you want to feed
hungry children or not? That's a simple question. Some of the
Conservative colleagues have already come out, has tweeted that she's supporting us. I think
is on his way to supporting us. This is a matter of
conscience. It's about principles before party. Are you going to
put money forward to feed hungry children in one of the toughest
winters of our generation or not? And if you're not going to, you
have to go back to your constituencies and face the music.
:
We’ve had a situation where children are… have been going hungry…
under a Labour government… for years.
https://twitter.com/LabourList/status/1318892165624418304?s=20
