MSP calls on Scots Tory leader to back free school meals U-turn
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BANFFSHIRE and Buchan Coast MSP Stewart Stevenson has called on the Scottish Conservatives leader Douglas Ross to back a second vote on free school meals.
It comes after the Moray MP and his colleagues failed to support the measure in a vote at Westminster last week. Mr Ross abstained in the vote on the Labour motion to extend the free meals scheme in England over Christmas and Easter.
The motion was defeated by 322 to 261, with a total of 321 Tory MPs – including all of Scotland's Conservative MPs barring Mr Ross – voting against.
The decision has seen an overwhelming public outcry with many businesses offering to provide free school meals instead.
More than 2000 paediatricians also signed an open letter to the Prime Minister at the weekend urging him to follow Scotland’s lead in providing free school meals over the coming holidays.
Earlier this month, the Scottish Government announced a £10 million package of funding to continue free school meals over the coming holidays.
The policy has been funded from existing budgets after the Tory government cut off Barnett consequentials for the policy.
Mr Stevenson said: “There has been palpable public anger over the UK Government’s decision to vote against providing free school meals.
“Businesses already impacted by the coronavirus pandemic are offering to provide free school meals despite struggling themselves.
“Moray MP Douglas Ross and his colleagues at Westminster have made a catastrophic error of judgement.
“Mr Ross completely failed his first test of leadership and if he wants to salvage any credibility he must back calls for a U-turn.
"The Scottish Tories have an abysmal voting record at Westminster. In the past few months alone, they have voted to impose an extreme Brexit against Scotland's will, backed a power grab on the Scottish Parliament, voted against protecting Scottish food standards, opposed human rights for refugee children, and backed Tory plans to scrap the furlough scheme - putting millions of jobs and businesses at risk during a pandemic.
"It is clear, that they are the same old toxic Tory party that they have always been – and they are lurching even further to the right under Douglas Ross.
"The SNP government has rightly committed to £10 million of funding to continue free school meals in Scotland over the coming holidays, but we have had to find this money from existing budgets, which could have been spent in other areas were it not for Tory cuts.
Explaining why he abstained, Mr Ross said he was in Scotland on the day of the debate and therefore could not vote. A proxy vote is only available for coronavirus-related reasons.
Mr Ross also outlined plans he has to implement free schools breakfasts and lunches in Scotland.
He said: "I wasn't in Westminster...as I had long-standing commitments in Scotland to fulfil so did not vote on this. But this was a vote that applied to England only.
"As leader of the Scottish Conservatives I have put forward proposals for Scotland that would see all primary school pupils have the chance to take up free school lunch and a breakfast at the start of the day.
"I think that's the right thing to do for children here in Moray, and across the country.
"I hope that political parties across Scotland can get behind this policy and deliver for our young people."
