Despite Labour Councillors in Hertsmere calling on the Government to fund free school meals throughout the school holidays, Conservative MP, Oliver Dowden, voted against the motion meaning over 1800 Hertsmere children are at risk of going hungry.

The call was to extend free school meals for the forthcoming October half term and for Christmas, as part of a Labour campaign to ensure that no child goes hungry during the coronavirus pandemic.

Labour had previously given Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak 72 hours to change their position and provide this support. With the deadline expired, the Party forced a Commons vote on the issue. 

In Hertsmere 1800 children at risk of going hungry over the holidays because the government has withdrawn support for the provision of free school meals. Half term comes as millions of families face a furlough cliff-edge that could see jobs across the country at risk, at the same time as millions of families face tighter restrictions. 

A Hertsmere Labour spokesperson said: “Millions of families face the prospect of losing their livelihoods because the government has lost control of the virus and plans for support could leave more than one million children at risk of going hungry over the school holidays.”