CITY leaders fear that Southampton children would go hungry following the “cruel” government decision not to provide free school meals during school holidays.

The news comes as the Labour’s motion, which called for the scheme to be extended over the school holidays until Easter 2021, was defeated by 261 votes to 322 – a majority of 61.

All Hampshire MPs - except Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead and Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan - voted against the motion.

The government said it has been giving “substantial support to families and children”.

But concerns have been raised over the impact the move would have on children in Southampton.

The news comes as Cllr Christopher Hammond, city council leader, said that more than 8,000 children in the city rely on free school meals.

He added: “To knowingly allow children to go hungry over school holidays is indefensible and cruel. These are not normal times. This summer, the government caved into pressure from campaigners and provided free school meals over the summer holidays. But this week our Conservative MPs decided now is the time for the most vulnerable to fend for themselves. Despite our own huge financial challenges, we will not walk away from these children to ensure they are supported this winter.”

John Draper, headteacher at Swaythling Primary School,  said the decision is “disappointing”.

He added: “Without question this will mean that many parents across our city and the country will be making some very tough decisions to feed their children. It’s hard not to compare this policy with the generosity of the ‘Eat out to Help Out’ Scheme, when some of the wealthiest families of four in the country were subsidised up to £80 for one meal.”

Southampton Test MP Alan Whitehead said to be worried that this: there is no doubts that families will struggle.”I am worried that this will lead to thousands of children in Southampton going hungry. “ he said.

But Southampton Itchen MP Royston Smith said Wednesday’s the vote was “a politically motivated stunt”. 

He stressed that the government has added £9bn to the welfare system since the start of the pandemic.

Mr Smith added: “The Government remains committed to supporting the disadvantaged in our society. Low income families have been supported through an uplift in Universal Credit by £1,000 a year. The Government has taken extraordinary action to support children from low income families incomes during the pandemic.”

A Government spokesperson said: “We have been giving substantial support to families and children, by providing free school meals when schools were partially closed, increasing welfare support by £9.3bn, and giving councils £63m."