Isle of Wight MP Bob Seely has issued a statement following his vote against extending free school meals to include school holidays.
Seely was 1 of 322 MPs who downvoted the motion in Parliament last night (Wednesday). The campaign to enable the country’s poorest children to be supplied with free food during half terms and over Christmas had celebrity backing from footballer Marcus Rashford.
In a statement issued earlier this afternoon, Mr Seely said:
“I welcome the action that was taken to ensure that eligible children were still able to get free school meals during the period of partial school closures and over the summer holidays. The national voucher scheme saw over £380 million worth of voucher codes redeemed into supermarket e-gift cards by schools and families with over 20,000 schools placing orders.
“The eligibility criteria for Free School Meals was temporarily extended. This included some groups who have no recourse to public funds. Further details can be found here – https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/covid-19-free-school-meals-guidance/guidance-for-the-temporary-extension-of-free-school-meals-eligibility-to-nrpf-groups
“While schools were restricted from opening to all pupils, additional support was given to families in recognition of the unprecedented levels of disruption and uncertainty for Island schools during this time. However, provision for free schools’ meals is ordinarily term time only.
“There is already substantial additional support for Islanders, such as increased universal credit among other measures, which has already been put in place to help families through this crisis and to ensure children and their families do not go hungry. The Government has put in £9 billion extra into welfare support already and £63 million to help Councils support families in need, so significant additional help is already going to families on the Island and across Britain.
“I am very aware that many families are going through tough times at the moment, and this is reflected in the increasing numbers of children being registered for free school meals. On this matter, my team and I are working hard to ensure Islanders get the support they need. However, if you or your family are struggling, I urge Islanders to contact me.
Article continues below this advertisement “Ministers are monitoring this situation closely. I welcome the publication of the first part of the National Food Strategy, which will kick start a full review of our food system.
“I have read with interest the recommendations made in the report, in particular those concerning nutrition for disadvantaged families and children. A key recommendation is to expand the number of eligible children for free school meals by an additional 1.5 million, taking the total number of children to 2.6 million.
“The coronavirus outbreak has made the importance of good nutrition for children even clearer. I know that Ministers will consider these recommendations carefully”.
The island is heading to hell in a handcart for the majority of families and small businesses. WHERE IS THE SUPPORT FROM OUR ELECTED MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT. He’s not interested and doesn’t care. I’m ashamed to have voted him in.
And so you should be.
I’ll be voting for him again next time for a laugh 🙂
Perhaps just half a sausage?
Cant believe they removed my comment saying Bob Seely is a bell end. I’ve seen nothing recently to suggest otherwise!
Nice pic of bob at the top surrounded by the supporters of his decision!
He doesn’t give a flying fig, just like he voted down for the pay rise for carers/nurses. Up there in his ‘welcoming’ tower with the likes of cllr stewart, looking down on us all struggling to put food on our tables and keep a roof over our heads, something they haven’t and never will have to worry about.
To be fair, there has been a LOT of assistance for the less well off. Everybody deserves as much help as can be given but there a limits. We could be in this mess for some years yet. Long term is far more important than short term.
I have no children, never wanted my own. I have been on furlough since March and that is the only government help I’ve had all through this pandemic. My job sector is still not being allowed to operate and now i and my colleagues are on notice of redundancy but because i get just over 1k a month, 600 of which is gone on my mortgage, 100+ on council tax not to mention the other bills and insurances I’ve got to have,cheapest everything i can find, sitting there watching sky or net flix, nice, i’m not, had to get rid of it all, but still i cannot get anything. I have cut back on ALL my out goings and survive on £50 a month food shop for 2 adults. Yes i would probably be better off on the dole, but i am of an era that believe that the dole is an aid for those unfortunate enough not to have a job, not a lifestyle choice most now see it as. I still have a job, how long for i don’t know. So yes there probably is a lot for the less well off, but you need to be claiming a benefit to get most of it, which i can’t, so little things like this to you are a big thing to families in my situation or similar. The situation in this country will get a lot worse before it gets better, especially with the new job retention system that makes things worse for a lot of businesses by paying more of the wage, with money from where, they’re still unable to operate, so will be unviable and close. So please, don’t compare the people struggling on 80% or less to those signing on, most of whom get the benefits.
Thank God you didn’t reproduce . One single minded fool feeling sorry for themselves is quite enough . Go grizzle in private and stop attention seeking on public forums. Shame you can still afford internet access .
Your reply just goes to show that you haven’t got the intelligence to differentiate between someone ‘attention seeking’ as you say, or someone explaining the difference, to a previous comment, between someone who makes the choice to get every benefit they can by claiming and using children as a lever, which i personally think is wrong, or someone putting their own situation, and many more on this island now and to come before Christmas, as an example that not everyone who needs a bit of help gets it. Just for your info, i haven’t got my own internet, i live above a private shop and they kindly let me piggy back theirs. If i did have my own young, i would’ve hoped, no, made sure they were a better adult than you appear to be. Now go back under the bridge from whence you came.
Here’s a thought. Take responsibility for your kids welfare and stop expecting everybody else to do it for you .
Some parents might be a bit shit, and irresponsible, but the majority are not. Glad you have a clear conscience knowing a child will go hungry because their parents f*cked up.
It’s not the kids fault, some of them have useless parents who spend all their benefits on beer and fags.
Here’s a thought. Letting children starve isn’t a good thing, maybe they’ll grow up to contribute to society if they are actually able to eat and not starve
Have you not considered parents may have lost jobs in these times and are usually able to afford to pay for their kids? I get that some are complete irresponsible but You cannot judge unless you know the facts.
Typical bloody hypocrite Bob, OK for him to break lockdown for a nice sausage or half of one, but it just shows that this idiot is a a true blue, “sod the poor” tory. Even Alan B’Stard wasn’t as bad as Bob Seely.
IF you can’t afford to feed your children, then DON’T have them.
Why should us tax payer feed YOUR choice of having something you can’t afford to have.
You get £20 for each child in allowance, you get £100 per child for working 20 hrs per week, for each child. You get help with rent and council tax IF you are on tax credits which almost all on Island wages are.
So FEED them yourselves, and mis out on the new phone, new TV, dope, alcohol, two cars, exotic hols, designer clothes etc etc etc.
They all get free education and free NHS treatment, so spend what your are given ON FOOD, not tat.
So narrow minded. Some of the children probably did have parents who could feed them. Then Covid came along and many lost income.
I’m alright Jack eh? It’s 2020 not 1939.
NOT at all. All benefits are more than enough to feed your family. If wasters choose to spend it on other things, then WHY should be pay to feed their clones?
IF we do, then ALL child benefits, tax credits, subsidised rent and council tax should CEASE for that family and let the state feed, cloth the children and just give the womb owner and sperm doner basic dole money.
Should NEVER get both, yet idiots like you will let them get away with it, but wouldn’t IF you were paying it.
THINK if capable
You sound like the dictator on this board. Are you afraid of debate, or likely just know you are wrong and doing what all losers do, insult.
Steven has made so very astute and valid points here today.
Grow up boy.
Like I said, in the late thirties those views may have been acceptable to some but not here and now. I don’t need to grow up, I have an opinion. I’m sorry if I’ve upset you by calling out your mate.
Your comment is spot on well done
Well said, well written Steven. Too many nowadays are having children then expect the government to give them all the handouts there are available LONG TERM. Benefits were initially created to help people and families SHORT TERM while they secured a job. Many now have no intention or want a job, they just sponge off the state, take everything for free, like a parasite. This of course is not fare on all who get up in the morning/night shift….have some self worth and dignity and go to work and not expect to be handed everything on a plate. I do of course feel sorry for hard working people who have lost their jobs or businesses through these desperate times and it’s these people that deserve all the help they can get from HM Government, NOT the free loaders who don’t give a fig about working, only what they can get. If you can’t feed, love, clothe, support and bring up a child in the correct way, then don’t have one.
Can tell most of you voted Tory
£82,000 a year salary for what!
Increased Universal Credit finished last month Bob try and keep up!
It finishes in April 2021 actually. Bob is keeping up, it seems you are not. The increases to LHA are permanent also. Perhaps you need to inform yourself a little better.
Dont think i do maybe you do, i know as im unfortunately on it if you take the housing element out of you will see on the monthly uc statement the money has gone back to pre covid do try and keep up dear!
Sickening racism. Be very ashamed. I thought for a bit you had a point but you blew it matey.
Ah the race card pulled when the truth becomes impossible to disagree with sensible debate. YOU blew it matey.
Actually it’s the racist card.
if the parents spunk the benefits cash on booze, drugs, fags and sky tv and the kids go hungry, then lock the pricks up and take the kids into care.
i am not paying out for some other twats kids food, whilst they are in the pub getting wasted.
Couldn’t agree more realist what I disagree with is the Nazi style thinking the original poster displays.
Yeah I can agree with your last point, but what you’ve stated applies to the vast minority, many have fallen on hard times due to everything that’s going on at the moment, so families who were financially stable now aren’t, and many can’t afford basic things such as food, we should expect things to get much worse in the months to come
Yes agree totally Realist. My thoughts exactly. Too many low life are churning out kids for all the wrong reasons. Not to provide a loving, caring and healthy life, all they want are the benefits. They then buy drugs, fags, booze have the latest iPhone and wide screen TV. WRONG, TOTALLY WRONG. Wasters and parasites these people. Then if they still want more, what do they do, steal from other people who have what they want, who have worked hard. No place in society for scroungers as far as I’m concerned but unfortunately, it’s normal.
The UK is a small island country, we cannot accommodate the world who want to come here and live as so many do. Look at the plan for p Feather, Ryde. Government want the entire development for such. Wrong, totally wrong. And don’t you dare mention race, colour, creed….anyone who is a decent, law abiding, working person I welcome and wish them well. What we don’t want are the ones who will get everything handed to them for free on a long-term basis, break the law and not respect the surroundings they are in. And it will be long term because there are just not enough jobs on the IOW. Capiche????
yes opinions matter and then when they do not get more cash for their feral, knuckle dragging offspring, they scream that their “yooman rights” have been ignored and despite the fact they are thieving, scumbags, they should still get more cash to sit in the pub, complaining about their lot in life.
Bob is consistent in one thing….voting the party line.
He talks the talk, but come voting time, yes, he votes for whatever his party wants.
Just like most MP’s they very rarely vote for the people that they are supposed to represent.
Let them eat a sausage !!!
No child regardless of there situation at home should go hungry whatsoever, that might be there only meal of the day! Yes some childrens parents might be completely useless and spend all there money on beer and fags BUT that is not the child’s fault and they should not suffer for it and nor should that be a reason to disagree with providing a meal.
Ah those classic words from the film Oliver, “please sir, I want some more’ and the response well fitting me thinks in this case lol
He went bind when his balls dropped
Shouldn’t parents be responsible for feeding their kids?
Responsible parents should , yes. Let’s say they aren’t responsible or are on able? Is it right that the children suffer?
Some are giving every penny to the greedy landlords of this island to keep a roof over their children’s head it’s that or food.Lucky you to not have to make that choice.Before you say they receive housing benefit to pay the rent the rates on this island thanks to the greedy selfish tories do not cover the rent and need to be topped up £200 -£300 pcm by using their money for food/other bills
Bam the freeloaders coming here then, and those already arrived, don’t have children if you cant afford to fund them, contraception for the poor is also free.
Any businesses or are the council going to help support the Marcus Rashford idea of helping out. I’m guessing not seeing as the council are in some sort of love triangle with seely and the tourist board.
https://twitter.com/search?q=marcus%20rashford%20school%20meals&f=live
no – if rashford is so keen on virtue signalling perhaps he should hand over the majority of that pay packet he gets for wandering around a field kicking a ball.
then i might actually take a bit of notice of what he drones on about.
good point, but even he hasn’t got that deep pockets, this is a long term problem brought about by low wages on the island, it’s been like that for a long time.
Karn- the benefits system is set up to ensure that kids parents are provided with child benefit for this very reason.
I am fed up with the never ending sponging that goes on in this country – how about people pay for their own kids instead of continuously expecting the rest of us to pay for their offspring
I wonder if ” Half Sausage” Bob claims expenses and subsistance on the meals he eats in the House of Commons , bet he wont admit to that
Tesco in Ryde give a tremendous amount of food to the food banks on a weekly basis. They also help various charities on the island too. So let’s not forget them. They have been doing this much longer than Marcus Rashford. Well done to Mr Rashford.
rashford is virtue signalling and expecting others to pay higher taxes for other peoples kids – they are not our responsibility.
“Contact him”? he is a king of a comedic sentence is Bob! only it is highly unfunny “Seldom seen”! He is never anywhere to be found “unless your of the masonic Lodge brigade, live in Brighstone, and he can flatter and fawn his way into their circle the twunk! The Isle of Wight very own” Turpin Dick”featuring on a wanted poster near you.. Robbing and fleecing the poor to keep his cronies in half sausages and Bolly!.
Typical comment from a bloke who has been fed off a silver spoon and never had to worry about when his next meal would be.