A Kent MP has defended the government's record on handouts throughout the pandemic but warned it cannot be expected to foot the bill for everything.

Dartford MP Gareth Johnson appeared before Parliament yesterday where he fielded questions on his party's handling of the public purse strings in the face of a backlash over free school meals.

It comes after the government announced a u-turn on its policy for providing food vouchers to some of the country's hardest hit families following a high profile campaign led by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford.

In Mr Johnson's constituency local Labour councillors got behind the initiative and wrote letters to the MP demanding action be taken.

Cllr Kelly Grehan, who represents the Stone House Ward, said: "This is stigmatising and traumatic for many families.

"I'm very worried about children, already massively disadvantaged, in my ward of Stone House, and in the rest of Dartford going hungry this summer and having no option but to rely on the limited resources of food banks."

Following the announcement the scheme would be continued this summer, Mr Johnson told Parliament how the government "had financially been there for people during this outbreak".

The Tory MP said: "Nobody can claim that this government have not put their hand in their pocket during the outbreak to help the British people.

"We have seen the multi billion-pound furloughing scheme, which has saved the livelihoods of millions of people in this country.

"Assistance has been given for the self-employed, and extra money has been invested in the NHS to help cope with the battle against covid-19.

"Of course, free school meals have been provided throughout this time in schools, or where schools are not open then in the form of vouchers.

"In addition, they have been provided to children over the Easter and Whitsun periods, and will now cover the summer."

On this point he took aim at his political opponent's record in government adding "we're the ones that supported four to seven-year-olds getting free school meals for the first time, which did not happen in 13 years of a Labour Government".

Kent families are now able to claim free school meals after a major U-turn by the government

Mr Johnson said it was important assistance was provided to families struggling to put food on the plates of their children throughout the summer.

The Tory explained it had always been his government's intention to ensure kids did not go hungry and they were intending to provide this support through local authorities.

He told local councillors and schools this would take the form of a "£9 million summer holiday activities and food programme" in a letter seen by Kent Online, which would "offer activities and meals to thousands of disavantaged children."

But yesterday he informed Parliament the policy would instead be rolled out as part of a national £120m "Covid summer food fund".

He said: "Assistance has been given for children to stay well nourished, and various schemes have and will be implemented.

"These schemes will provide for children, and ensure that a safety net exists."

Lib Dem leadership candidate and MP Layla Moran queried whether the money earmarked for Brexit would be better used for schemes such as those which prevent holiday hunger.

To which Mr Johnson, a vocal supporter of the Eurosceptic pressure group Leave Means Leave, said he was "astonished" the subject had been "shoehorned" into a debate on free school meals.

He said "I am quite happy to talk about Brexit and the opportunities it gives us" before adding "I do think that what has happened and what the taxpayer wants is fairness".

"It wants fairness: yes, it does not want children starving, but it also recognises the fact that there are huge burdens now on our economy and that that money needs to be paid back.

The MP from Longfield went on to state the government could not be expected to foot the bill for everything.

"We all want to do the right thing for struggling families," he said, "but we all also want to ensure that there is fairness for the taxpayer, so it is important that the right approach is adopted.

"I do think that what has happened and what the taxpayer wants is fairness."

"Universal credit and working tax credits have seen uplifts to the tune of £6.5 billion, and 2 million food packages have been provided."

But Mr Johnson warned while the list of of assistance was "extremely lengthy" it must be noted "it is not our money".

He said: "It is taxpayers’ money - money that will have to be paid back not just by this generation of workers, but by their children and quite possibly their grandchildren as well."

"This is all going to have to be paid back at some stage, and it is going to hurt, but it is right that we step up to our responsibilities during this dreadful time."

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