Scottish Tories back English football star’s school meals drive

The Sco t t ish Conservatives are backing footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign for free school meals in England, the p a r ty ’ s leader has said.

Moray MP Douglas Ross described the Ma n c h e s t e r United player ’s campaign as “nothing short of extraordinary”.

The UK Tory Party has faced criticism in the past week after 320 of its MPs voted not to give £15-a-week food vouchers to impoverished children during school holidays.

However, Mr Ross has now broken ranks, saying the Scottish Tories back the plan, and is calling on the Scottish Government to go even further.

Earlier this month, Scotland’s social security secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, announced more than £10 million for the extension of free school meals during the Christmas, February and Easter breaks, as well as reimbursements to local authorities which offer support during the

October h o l i d a y. In September, the Scottish Tory leader announced his party would push for free breakfasts and lunches in every Scottish primary school.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Mr Ross said: “My reasoning was partly because it’s good policy – no child learns well when they’re not well-fed.”

He added: “By providing free school meals universally, my party reasoned, we could make sure no pupil is left behind, as they have been far too often under the SNP.”

Mr Ross also said that his mother’s work as a school dinner lady had pushed him to act, showing “the good that providing pupils with healthy, nutritious food can do”.

The party will now push for a vote in Ho ly rood on implementing his policy, the leader said, adding: “I’m going to keep cheering on Ma r c u s Rashford’s campaign in England.”