The Independent UK MPs have rejected a plan to extend free school meals into the school holidays by 322 votes to 261.

UK MPs have rejected a plan to extend free school meals into the school holidays by 322 votes to 261. The Labour motion, which was defeated by a majority of 61, would have extended provision of hot food for children until Easter 2021. Boris Johnson had whipped Tory MPs to vote against the plan, arguing that it was not the job of schools to “regularly provide food during the school holidays”. More than 1.4 million children experience food insecurity during the holidays, according to the Food Foundation, while 6.3 per cent of children are worried about going hungry during the impending October half-term.