More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Two Kent MPs have contacted the police following abuse and threats they have received after the free schools meals vote in the House of Commons.
Fourteen Conservative MPs in Kent voted against the motion that would have provided meals to those eligible for free school dinners during the half-term and Christmas holidays.
Although the MPs justified their action by pointing to the extra funding given to local councils to help the needy, plus increases in the level of Universal Credit, there has been considerable public backlash.
For some MPs, this has taken the form of "empty-plating" - with empty dinner plates left outside their homes or constituency offices to symbolise the children who would be going hungry.
But for others, the protests have taken a nastier turn.
Laura Trott, MP for Sevenoaks, posted on Facebook to tell her supporters: "This week there has been a torrent of abuse levied at MPs about Free School Meals.
"I have received a number of threats that I have had to report to the police, and some of the comments exchanged have also been aggressive and upsetting to those participating in debate."
"While of course I completely understand that people may disagree with me, personal abuse and threats alienate others from entering politics and stifle proper debate."
Mrs Trott, a mother-of-three, urged: "I hope that everyone reading this accepts that there are different ways of dealing with child hunger.
"Some people think you should do it through the welfare system, some people think that meal vouchers are better. However, having an opinion on one side or another does not mean you don’t care about children not getting fed.
"I will continue to support our schools, food banks, social workers and refuges in the way I have always done. "
Tom Tugendhat, MP for Tonbridge and Malling, confirmed that he too had received threats. He would not go into details, saying only: "I’m very grateful to Kent Police for their support.”
Kent Police said they were not aware of any reports of threats to other MPs.
Helen Grant, MP for Maidstone and the Weald, confirmed that she had not received any, and so did Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford, though she pointed out that she had abstained in the vote.
The opposition motion on a proposal to extend free school meals was lost by 261 to 322.
The campaign has been led by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, who has since said he does not condone personal attacks on MPs.
