Former Scots Tory chief backs football star’s free meals bid
A former Scots Tory leader backed Marcus Rashford’s campaign for an extension of free school meals for English pupils during holidays, despite his colleagues at Westminster voting it down.
MSP Jackson Carlaw supported the Manchester United footballer, who has campaigned to prevent children going hungry during the pandemic, in spite of Tory MPS rejecting policy in a vote last week. Douglas Ross, Mr Carlaw’s successor as Scots Tory leader, abstained while the five other Scottish Tory MPS voted against an extension of free school meals during the English half-term holidays.
Rashsford’s plan has been backed by offers of help from restaurants and cafes but the Commons motion tabled last week by Labour, to extend holiday meal vouchers to Easter, was defeated.
Carlaw, who had a brief spell as Scottish Conservatives’ leader from February to July this year, wrote online yesterday: “When leader of Scots Tories, I wholeheartedly supported the hugely impressive Marcus Rashford campaign for holiday meals for kids during this pandemic. I still do.”
Labour yesterday said it will bring the issue back to the House of Commons if ministers do not agree to a change in time for Christmas. The Scottish Government has promised to continue free meals through the holidays.
Rashford, 22, whose petition calling for action had last night attracted 730,000 signatures, tweeted on Friday: “I’m signing off with a feeling of pride tonight. The superstars of this nation lie in local communities.”