8 out of 9 MPs across Greater Lincolnshire have rejected plans to extend free school meals over the holidays.
Scunthorpe's MP Holly Mumby-Croft was the only conservative MP in the area to vote for the motion.
Last updated 22nd Oct 2020
Eight out of nine Greater Lincolnshire Conservative MPs have rejected a plan to extend free school meals over the school holidays.
Labour called for the provision of hot food for children to carry on until Easter 2021, however the motion was defeated by a majority of 61.
Leading the vote, Labour’s shadow education secretary Kate Green said more than 1.4 million children benefit from free school meals nationally.
Almost 900,000 of those eligible were now in areas subject to tougher COVID-19 restrictions, she added.
“In the summer, when this issue was debated in this House, the government saw sense, did the right thing and ensured that no child would go hungry over the summer holidays,” she said.
“This time, however, despite many families facing even more challenging circumstances now than they did four months ago, shamefully the government are walking away from their obligation to hungry children.”
Her counterpart, education secretary Gavin Williamson, however, said the government was in a different position.
“Free school meals are and always have been about supporting children with a meal to help them when they’re at school or currently at home learning,” he said.
“But it is our support through universal credit and our comprehensive welfare system that supports families.”
Those who voted against the plans were (all Conservative):
Karl McCartney, Lincoln (vote cast by Stuart Andrew on his behalf)
Victoria Atkins, Louth and Horncastle
Gareth Davies, Grantham and Stamford
Sir John Hayes, South Holland and the Deepings
Caroline Johnson, Sleaford and North Hykeham (vote cast by Stuart Andrew on her behalf)
Sir Edward Leigh, Gainsborough
Matt Warman, Boston and Skegness
Martin Vickers, Cleethorpes
The only MP to vote for the plans was Scunthorpe Conservative MP Holly Mumby-Croft.
Greater Grimsby MP Lia Nici and Brigg and Goole’s Andrew Percy did not vote.
None of the MPs spoke on the motion.
Former Labour MP for Lincoln, Karen Lee took to twitter to share her thoughts on the recent vote: