By Luke Pawley
All seven Conservative MPs in Leicestershire voted in Parliament this week (October 21) for children across the country to potentially go hungry over Christmas.
The government, which stood against a Labour motion to extend free school meals during holidays until Easter 2021, won the vote with a majority of 61 in the House of Commons.
Edward Argar (Charnwood), Andrew Bridgen (North West Leicestershire), Alberto Costa (South Leicestershire), Dr Luke Evans (Bosworth), Jane Hunt (Loughborough), Alicia Kearns (Rutland and Melton) and Neil O’Brien (Harborough) were the local representatives who refused to defy the Tory whip.
Leicestershire’s three Labour MPs, Jon Ashworth (Leicester South), Liz Kendall (Leicester West) and Claudia Webbe (Leicester East); all voted in favour of extending free school meals beyond Christmas.
Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford MBE is continuing his campaign to extend the scheme and reduce child poverty across the United Kingdom.
