WARRINGTON has stepped up to combat hunger facing children over the school holidays after the Government failed to do the ‘right thing’.

MPs voted against Labour’s motion to extend free school meals over school holidays until Easter 2021 last week.

Warrington North Labour MP Charlotte Nichols voted in favour of the motion, while Warrington South Conservative MP Andy Carter voted against it.

In recent years, Labour-run Warrington Borough Council has provided a variety of school holiday events where, in addition to engaging in a variety of activities, children receive a free meal.

But it says this has become more challenging due to the restrictions now in place to control the spread of coronavirus.

However, for this half term holiday the council has worked with local schools, many of which have been able to provide additional support to families in need, with the backing of businesses.

Direct support is also available to families from the early help team.

Cllr Matt Smith, cabinet member for children’s services, said: “In Warrington we pride ourselves on the approach we take to protecting our most vulnerable residents.

“Around 80 per cent of the council’s annual budget is now spent on services and support for vulnerable children and adults.

Warrington Guardian:

Cllr Matt Smith

“The strengths of our local approach have been recognised by others within the region and nationally.

“We have long recognised the disparity in the Government’s policy of providing free meals for eligible children during school term time, but not during the holidays.

“It is no easier for a family in poverty to provide meals in the holidays than it is when their children are at school.

“We‘ve discussed issues around food poverty a number of times at council meetings, including the most recent full council meeting in September where we passed a motion calling on the Government to address food poverty.

“I applaud all those who have brought attention to this national scandal and I’m so proud of the way that many local businesses and community organisations have stepped up with kindness and generosity at this difficult time.

“Last week the Government missed a crucial opportunity to do the right thing when 318 Conservative MPs, including the MP for Warrington South, voted down a motion which would have seen free meals for eligible children extended to cover school holidays until Easter next year.

“Local Conservatives might point to money the Government has provided to the council during the pandemic, suggesting this could be used to cover holiday meals.

“In reality this money comes nowhere near covering the additional costs already spent during the pandemic providing support for vulnerable people in Warrington, costs which have increased considerably since March when the country went into lockdown. We still await a proper national solution to the disgrace of child food poverty.

“In Warrington we will continue to provide targeted intervention and support to families and their children, throughout the holidays and term time.

“The approach we take and support we offer remains under constant review as we continue to do our best to meet the challenges of Covid-19.

“Our commitment to support vulnerable people in Warrington’s communities at this unprecedented and most demanding time is unwavering.”

Any family in need of support during the half term holiday is urged to contact the council’s early help team on 443131

However, Conservative borough councillor Kath Buckley says it is ‘disingenuous’ of Cllr Smith to suggest that the opposition motion would have resulted in a change in the law.

Warrington Guardian:

Cllr Kath Buckley

“No Bill was presented to Parliament, this was simply an opposition motion,” she added.

“The reality is that Warrington Borough Council has received £215,000 from a £63m pot to support vulnerable families in Warrington which was to be used over a 12-week period including this half term.

“The council is spending money helping families, that’s what the money was for.

“Councillors and schools complained about the efficiency of the school vouchers scheme earlier in the year.

“They asked for the ability to control the support, the Government listened to that feedback and has given the council the money to channel it precisely where it is required the most.

“On Thursday the council received a further £2.3 million which hasn’t been ring-fenced and can be spent on supporting social services and families in Warrington during these unprecedented times.

“As a Conservative group, we would like to put on record our thanks to Professor Broomhead, the chief executive of the council, who has been working with Andy Carter MP to ensure that the correct funding is being given to Warrington and I’d encourage Cllr Smith and his Labour colleagues to work with Professor Broomhead in this regard.”

Warrington and Halton Green Party says it is 'shocked' and 'outraged' over the decision not to provide free school meals to children during the school holidays. 

It says the people of Warrington should remember what the Tories have done and vote accordingly at the ballot box in May 2021 at the local elections.

Leader Lyndsay McAteer said: “A Government that votes for hungry children during a pandemic can only be described as utterly cruel and lacking in basic humanity and compassion.”

The party added that 'getting rid' of free school meals is 'like pulling the rug from under the feet' of many families.

Warrington Guardian:

Lyndsay McAteer