In a statement today, MP for Kenilworth and Southam Jeremy Wright has explained why he voted against providing free school meals for children.

The parliamentary vote this week came after Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford, and many others had been pushing for free school meals for children during half term and beyond.

The labour-led proposal would have given eligible children a £15 a week food voucher even during the holidays, but was defeated by 322 votes to 261 - with a majority of 61.

Only five Conservatives rebelled against the Government to vote for feeding more than 1.4 million children during school breaks.

They did not include the Jeremy Wright.

In his statement he began "At the outset, I should make clear that I support the provision of free school meals for those who need them during term time. I supported the Children and Families Act 2014, which extended that provision to students in 6th Form Colleges and Further Education and I have supported further extensions since."

He then, however, explained why he could not support this proposal, for two reasons.

Firstly, he stated the financial burdens that the government currently faces, providing financial relief during the pandemic, and that "It is therefore imperative that Government help is targeted effectively at those who need it."

Mr Wright went on to say that the wording of the proposal did not lend itself to an effective use of government resources.

"The motion did not restrict that provision to children in financial need or exclude universal provision for those in Year 2 or younger, and enacting it as worded would therefore oblige the Government to use limited resources to provide support out of term time also to families who are relatively well-off, and potentially a significant number of them.

"The latest official estimate was that 1.4 million children receive free school meals due to financial need, and a further 1.4 million receive them due to the universal provision for younger children."

Mr Wright then explained his second objection to the motion.

"Secondly, as we seek to establish support mechanisms which may need to serve for many more months as the virus remains a feature of our lives, I cannot accept that increasing the administrative burden on education outside term time is the best way to deliver what is in effect welfare support.

"Excluding universal provision for younger pupils, all families eligible for free school meals are also eligible for one or more welfare benefits or income support, and it is these mechanisms which are specifically designed to get help to those most in need."

If you would like to read his statement in full please follow this link.