KATE OSBORNE: Heartwarming to see so many step in to help hungry children

It made my heart warm to see the public and local businesses across the country rally enthusiastically behind England footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign for the Government to feed our hungry children over the school holidays.

We really should not be having this debate at all. In the summer, the Government was forced into yet another U-turn to provide vouchers over the summer holidays to those families who are entitled to free school meals.

Now, just four months on, shamefully, the government is walking away from its obligation to feed hungry children.

Last week in Westminster, the vast majority of Tory MPs voted against Labour’s proposal to extend free school meals over the school holidays during this pandemic.

Growing up in a single parent household, receiving free school meals, with a young son who was on free school meals, I understand the importance and necessity of free school meals. For some it may often be the only hot meal received on a cold winter’s day.

Research from the Child Poverty Commission shows that almost 93,000 children and young people across the North East, including 5,617 in South Tyneside and 6,135 in Gateshead, were in receipt of free school meals in the last academic year.

It leaves me lost for words when I see half term starting and that thousands of children will be fed by their communities - but not by a government that wickedly refuses to do so.

I can’t praise highly enough the selfless people who work, and generously donate to save from hunger, those abandoned by this government.

People such as Jo Durkin and Angie Comerford from one of our wonderful local food banks, Hebburn Helps, who day in day out deliver food parcels around the Jarrow constituency to ensure food is available for those who are struggling in our communities.

People such as Tracy Beaton from another local food bank, Bede’s Helping Hands in Bilton Hall, who are this week offering main meals and a pudding for children free of charge.

And also pub landlord Lee Hughes from the Red Hackle who is offering free burgers, sausage sandwiches, and fruit to children during half term.

It shouldn't be necessary for them to do this but because of the actions of this government they have stepped up to the plate for the benefit of their communities.

Boris Johnson seems more than happy to spend £7,000 a day for one consultant working on Serco’s woeful test and trace system, when this amount could pay for 2,300 meals for hungry children.

The virus has not gone away and we face a difficult winter of restrictions. The furlough scheme ends in a matter of days which will inevitably lead to more unemployment.

This issue is not about party-politics it is about doing what is right and that is to make sure that children do not go without during this crisis.

Unfortunately, Labour’s motion to supply free school meals to children during the half term holidays was defeated, but thanks mainly to the wonderful efforts of Marcus Rashford and our local communities, the fight goes on. I’ll be fighting for another vote in Parliament in the coming weeks so that free school meals are extended over the Christmas school holidays and beyond.