FREE SCHOOL MEALS ARE CUT

On Tuesday March 13th Tory and DUP MPs voted for cuts to free school meals. In England Families on universal credit will see the income threshold for free school meals cut to £7,400 per year. Catherine Atkinson, Labour’s candidate for Erewash in the next general election had written to Maggie Throup urging her to put Derbyshire’s poorest children before Party loyalty, by voting against the Government plans. The appeal fell on deaf ears as Maggie Throup toed the party line and the sweeping cuts were waved through by 312 votes to 254. Speaking about the Government plans before the vote, Catherine said:

 

“The Tories are trying to leave over a million children without access to free school meals, that’s potentially 14,000 in our area alone. If Maggie Throup votes to literally take hot dinners away from the children of her constituents, I don’t know how she will be able to hold her head high in our towns.”