Caroline Ansell resigns as Government aide over free school meals after voting for Marcus Rashford plan
A ministerial aide resigned today after voting with Labour for a move led by footballer Marcus Rashford to extend free school meals over the holidays.
Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell, a parliamentary private secretary at the department for environment, food and rural affairs, was one of five Conservatives who backed the Labour motion.
The Government defeated the move by 322 to 261 votes. However, England star Rashford has vowed to keep campaigning.
Headteachers urged the Government to reverse last night’s decision, warning that families are going through “unimaginable” hardship.
In a statement today, Ms Ansell said: “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.
“Last night, I voted for Labour’s motion on extending free school meal vouchers until after Easter 2021 for families in receipt of Universal Credit or an equivalent benefit.”
She added: “As we are still very much living in the shadow of the pandemic, vouchers are a lever — not perfect, not sustainable — but one which I thought could be used to reach families across the country in the immediate time ahead. I could not in all conscience ignore that belief.”
London heads and a food charity chief called for a U-turn after more than 300,000 people signed a petition launched by Rashford calling for children to be given food during holidays.
Jared Brading, executive head of St Mary’s Catholic School in Battersea, said: “I urge them to rethink in time for Christmas. Applications for free school meals are rising in London schools and the decision will inevitably mean children go hungry.”
Sahreen Siddiqui, head of Stanhope Primary School in Ealing, where 28 per cent of children qualify for free school meals, said: “It is a horrible feeling knowing at the end of term that children are going home without sufficient food. It doesn’t feel right.
“It is just unimaginable what it must be like for those families who can’t put food on the table.” Stephanie Slater, CEO of charity School Food Matters, said: “The Government can and must address the issue of food poverty so our most vulnerable children can enjoy the school holidays without fear of hunger.”
Robert Halfon, Tory chairman of the Commons education committee, who also voted with Labour, called for ministers to draw up a long-term plan to stop children having to go hungry, such as extending breakfast clubs.
“The Prime Minister and Education Secretary should sit down with the Marcus Rashford taskforce to work through the long-term planning,” he told the Standard.
Rashford warned a “significant number” of children will go to bed hungry and “feeling like they do not matter” because of comments made by some MPs yesterday.
Downing Street ruled out performing a late U-turn ahead of the vote, with Boris Johnson telling MPs that support will continue for children on low incomes.
Home Office minister Kit Malthouse said the decision to not extend free school meals over the holidays was a “tough one” but the Government felt it could better help families through the benefits system.
He added: “We took a decision early on that the best way to target money to low-income families was through the welfare system.”
He denied that MPs had “ganged up” on Rashford, after it emerged whips had circulated points which Tory MPs could use during the Commons debate.
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