The Gaudie looks at how Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire MPs voted on last night’s Free School Meals plan in Westminster
By: Anttoni J Numminen
2019 General Election vote count in Aberdeen - Photograph: Anttoni Numminen
The Labour Party’s motion to extend free school meals over the school holidays was voted down by Tory MPs last night in Westminster.
Though as a motion it did not apply to Scotland, the Gaudie looks at how Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire MPs voted on it.
Labour’s motion was voted down 322 votes to 261, a majority of 61. PM Boris Johnson whipped his MPs into voting against the motion, though five Tory MPs rebelled against the government to support extending free school meals over the holidays.
One Conservative MP, Brendan Clarke-Smith, said: “I do not believe in nationalising children. Instead, we need to get back to the idea of taking responsibility, and that means less celebrity virtue-signalling on Twitter by proxy and more action to tackle the real causes of child poverty.”
This is how Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire MPs voted on the motion:
Andrew Bowie (Conservative) - Aberdeenshire and Kincardine, voted No (against the motion)
David Duguid (Conservative) - Banff and Buchan, voted No (against the motion)
Kirsty Blackman (SNP) – Aberdeen North, voted Aye (in favour of the motion)
Stephen Flynn (SNP) – Aberdeen South, voted Aye (in favour of the motion)
Richard Thomson (SNP) - Gordon, voted Aye (in favour of the motion)
In Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon has promised: “funding for free school meals during next Christmas, February and Easter holidays."
