A TORY MP has quit her government position after voting in favour of free school meals for pupils in need over the upcoming holidays.

Caroline Ansell, the MP for Eastbourne, supported Labour’s motion, saying that while vouchers are not a long-term solution they help families struggling through the coronavirus crisis.

The campaign to extend free school meals provision has been led by footballer Marcus Rashford, who is urging MPs to stop being influenced by their “political affiliation”.

READ MORE: Free school meals: These Scots Tories voted against the Labour motion

Last night’s motion was defeated by 322 votes to 261. Ansell was one of the five Tory MPs who rebelled against their party.

Ansell, who has now stepped down as parliamentary private secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: “In these unprecedented times I am very concerned to be doing all we can to help lower income families and their children who are really struggling due to the impact of the virus."

She added that vouchers would help the families in her constituency who are struggling at the moment.

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In England about 1.3 million children claimed free school meals in 2019 – children living in households in income-related benefits may be eligible for them.

A further 900,000 children in England may have sought free school meals since the start of the pandemic, according to analysis from the Food Foundation.

A campaign led by Rashford earlier this summer forced the Tory Government into U-turning on free school meals, securing the scheme over the summer break.

In Scotland and Wales ministers have pledged to fund free school meals over the upcoming Christmas, February and Easter breaks.