Conservative MP resigns as Government aide over rejection of free school meals plan

The parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, is one of five conservative MPs who voted with Labour and against the Government last night in a bid to extend free school meals, that was defeated in Parliament, with 261 votes in favour and 322 against.

She said, ‘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.’

Ms Ansell, who is also MP for Eastbourne and Willingdon, acknowledged that vouchers were not a long-term solution - but they helped families struggling with the pandemic.

Chair of the education select committee, Robert Halfon, who also voted with Labour, told MPs at the opposition debate last night, ‘If we acknowledge that children risk going hungry in term time by providing them with free school meals, despite the provision of universal credit and the other things that have been mentioned by the Government, we know that they risk going hungry in the holidays too.’

Gavin Williamson, the education secretary, said it was right that, during an unprecedented and unpredictable period at the start of the pandemic, extra measures were taken. ‘But we are in a different position now that we have welcomed all pupils back to school, he said.

He added, ‘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. But it is our support through universal credit and our comprehensive welfare system that supports families.’