The Tories are having a bad reaction across the country to their decision to vote against extending free school meals to disadvantaged children during the holidays last week. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has been banned from his local pub as a result, several Tories have resigned and a petition to protest against MPs using public money for their own free food is currently doing the rounds gaining increasing numbers . Now, Yeovil Labour Party Womens Officer Rebecca Chedzoy (Hazelgrove) has launched a fierce attack on her own MP Marcus Fysh for joining the rest of the County Tory MPs in their vote.
Rebecca says “In the 80’s Thatcher starved the miners, in 2020 we have Alexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson starving the minors. During a global pandemic no less. Generating more torment to families who are already struggling and desperate. The Conservatives have shown nothing but contempt towards the working class, even more so during the Coronavirus crisis. When a premier league footballer has done more for starving kids in the last 8 months than the Conservatives, you know we have a massive problem. Even our own MP, Marcus Fysh, who claimed £60, 963.86 in expenses last year, has nothing valuable to say. When questioned why he voted against the motion, he said “The Labour motion was opposition day rather than one that could have any effect, and such motions are always voted down by the Govt as a matter of process.” Lets get one thing straight, the Conservatives voted against this motion because they are incapable of exhibiting human decency. They don’t care about our children going hungry, because they will never have to worry about their own children going to bed hungry. It doesn’t fit the Tory narrative to care about the working class. In the early days of the lockdown, we had a huge sense of community. We had a great support network in Yeovil. But just like that we now have a massive divide on who is responsible for feeding children. Providing vouchers for families during these uncertain times, doesn’t create “state dependency”, it creates a sense of safety and relief for those who need it most.”
A New Low
Yeovil Labour Youth Officer James Bamford added “Marcus Fysh has reached a new low. If we can’t afford to feed school children this half term, we can’t afford to give MPs a £3,200 pay rise either. I am a 16 year old living in Yeovil and am utterly disgusted that this man apparently ‘represents’ us. According to Fysh, “It isn’t a principle that we should agree to, that the state is somehow responsible for everybody’s children.” Now read that again. Access to food as a child is a human right. How in the ‘land of hope and glory’ could this not be the case? Writing this I find myself at a complete loss: how could so many people be so cruel? Conservative MPs have children, according to his Wikipedia Boris Johnson has ‘at least six’ of his own. So how could they turn a blind eye to over a million of our nation’s? How could Marcus Fysh turn a blind eye to his own constituents? Well the truth is he hasn’t: he just doesn’t care. Marcus Fysh doesn’t care about me, he doesn’t care about you, and he doesn’t care about your children. And he’s made that pretty clear these last few days. When challenged by members of the community on social media, he has replied with either a one line copy-pasted response or an immature dig at the opposition. His representation of the Yeovil Constituency lacks substance, understanding and compassion. If it did, he would understand what a pivotal role the Lord’s Larder plays in our community and how its demand has risen exponentially since the start of lockdown. He would be concerned with the knowledge that the south west has the highest growing number of families in poverty. He would not be spitting in the faces of his constituents. In an interview, he said that he hasn’t been presented with any information which suggests that people in the local area will struggle to feed their children over the months to come. This cannot be true. He has been shown and he is choosing not to listen. It has been sobering to see local organisations step up to fill the role that Marcus Fysh has failed to do so. Preston Secondary School have said they will fund food vouchers for their FSM pupils over the school holiday, Yeovil Town Football Club are offering free meals for children next Thursday afternoon and Tintinhull Village Hall and Coffee shop have announced that children are welcome to come in during the half term and be provided with free soup or beans on toast. These are but a few of the local groups who have pledged support to children this half term. Solidarity is the greatest demonstration of community but it is tragic that this is even needed. The way our MP treats us is abhorrent. He is not fit for purpose. “
To say I’m disappointed in our government is a complete understatement. Our government is letting children go without a warm meal during a pandemic and it’s going unnoticed by lots of people. I think it’s absolutely fabulous that the young people of Yeovil have James Bamford as an advocate.