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A Conservative MP who challenged her party to support the Labor vote for free school meals during the school holidays resigned from government.
Caroline Ansell, the MP from Eastbourne and Willingdon, was one of five Conservatives who backed Labor’s motion on Wednesday to extend financial support to poorer families during the midterm and Christmas holidays amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Ansell resigned as a parliamentary assistant in the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, saying: “In these unprecedented times, I am very concerned to do everything I can to help low-income families and their children who are really fighting for to the impact of the virus “.
He added: “I do not consider that this extension can in any way be a long-term solution to this need, which is complex. There are better ways to help children, including linking meals to activities so they can benefit from extracurricular learning and experience as well.
“However, as we still largely live in the shadow of the pandemic, vouchers are a lever, which is neither perfect nor sustainable, but I thought it could be used to reach families in Eastbourne and across the country in the future. righ now. . He could not conscientiously ignore that belief. “
The Labor opposition’s motion of the day, which was supported by English footballer Marcus Rashford, was defeated on Wednesday night by 322 votes to 261.
Conservative education select committee chair Robert Halfon also backed the motion, which was aimed at compelling the government to take action.
The ministers argue that the situation is different from that of the national lockdown and summer vacation, when families entitled to free school meals received meal vouchers.
Opposing the motion during a moody debate in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Education Secretary Gavin Williamson suggested that the best way to support children was through the welfare system.
“There are real challenges around youth and fighting poverty, and Conservative members are determined to ensure that we take action to address those issues and that families, children and individuals get the support they need. The best way to do this is through the wellness system; the best way to do it is by supporting people at work, since that is always the best route out of poverty ”.
In response to the defeat of the Labor motion, Rashford, 22, who received an MBE on the Queen’s birthday honors list this month, told his 3.5 million Twitter followers: “Put all the noise aside. , excavations, party politics and focusing on reality. A significant number of children go to sleep tonight, not only hungry, but they feel they don’t matter because of the comments made today. “
