Businesses and individuals led a furious backlash against Conservative MPs in west Kent who voted against extending free school meals for the poorest pupils over the holidays.

More than 52,000 of the least well-off children in Kent are eligible for the support during term time, and a campaign led by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford has called for that to be extended during half term and Christmas breaks.

When the idea of extending the scheme was voted on in the House of Commons last week it was rejected by a majority of 61 - prompting an outpouring of generosity as people rallied round with offers of meals and fundraising efforts for food banks.

Tory MPs to vote against the idea of feeding poorer children during the school holidays included Maidstone MP Helen Grant, Tonbridge and Malling MP Tom Tugendhat, Sevenoaks MP Laura Trott and Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark.

Tracey Crouch, who is MP for Chatham and Aylesford, abstained on the vote. Only one Kent MP, Canterbury’s Rosie Duffield, voted in favour of the measures.

Zoe Duerden, a TV producer who lives in Barden Road, Tonbridge , with her fiance Craig Hazell, was so incensed that her MP had voted against the extension to the scheme that she set about online fundraising for the food bank charity The Trussell Trust.

The donations came pouring in, and the 31-year-old’s online appeal has now raised more than £5,000 .

“When I found out the result, I just felt so let down by this Conservative Government,” she said.

“I didn’t feel that Tom Tugendhat had truly represented my own feelings or the feelings of my local community that I know to be so generous. Tonbridge is an incredibly helpful and supportive community, which my partner and I have experienced firsthand since moving here.

“I don’t have a strong political affiliation but I was so impressed by the great work Marcus Rashford did getting this initiative started so when I heard there would be another vote I just assumed it would pass. With so many people struggling financially right now, it seemed like it would be the obvious thing to do.”

After sharing the result of the Commons vote on a community Facebook page, Ms Duerden says the response made her realise she was not alone in her anger at the decision not to feed some of the most vulnerable children during the holidays.

She says she tried to engage with her MP on social media, but was left feeling “unheard” by Mr Tugendhat. It was at this point she decided to act herself.

"The response has been overwhelming..."

“Many of us felt we wanted to do more,” she said. “So we decided that if Tom Tugendhat and the Government won’t do what we feel is right, we should step in as a community.

“The JustGiving page was posted at about 6.30am on Friday morning and the response has been overwhelming. The donations just kept rolling in.

“Some people were giving us £100 and some people were giving their last £5. I couldn’t believe it.

“We are now working with a local foodbank charity called FEAST and we are taking donations from businesses and local residents to help those kids in need. We were immediately supported by local businesses like 65mm, The Plough and Oliver Greens, who have also struggled financially during the pandemic, but they want to help and so are giving as much as they can.

“My message to Tom would be to listen to the strength of feeling in his constituency and please change your mind on this issue. Take action this week, call in the Government and make a change that your community is desperately asking you for.”

The Labour-backed proposals which were defeated in Parliament would have seen disadvantaged children receive food vouchers worth £15-a-week during the school holidays between now and Easter.

It came after footballer Marcus Rashford gained more than 300,000 signatures for a petition for the funds. Following the vote, Rashford said: “Put aside all the noise, the digs, the party politics and let’s focus on the reality.

“Nobody is pointing fingers, I’m asking we work together to protect our most vulnerable children dealing with the devastating effects of the pandemic. This is nothing to do with politics.”

It all comes at a time when MPs could be in line for a £3,000 boost to their annual salaries from next April, at a time when many families are struggling to make ends meet.

Defending his vote on the motion, Mr Tugendhat said: “I have always argued that all parents and families should be respected and treated with dignity.

"Game-playing makes it harder to find the answers we all need..."

“That means that all families should have the choice to spend their money where they see fit, however much they earn and whatever they have—even if that’s money from the state. Every parent has to ensure their family is well fed, that goes without saying.

“The government rightly supports families who are struggling with this responsibility through Universal Credit and other methods of support. In the five years I have been lucky to represent Tonbridge, Edenbridge and Malling I have helped hundreds of different families in need to boost their income, to better support their children.

“The idea that I, or any other politician, would vote to take away free meals from children in need or deliberately harm our community is wrong and untrue. There are legitimate discussions we need to have on how we structure welfare but dishonesty and game-playing makes it harder to find the answers we all need.”

Explaining her decision to abstain on last week’s vote, Ms Crouch said: “Given the current circumstances brought about by the coronavirus pandemic and the pressures on the finances of many families, I do believe it is sensible to temporarily extend free school meal provision during the school holidays, while a long-term solution to the problem can be found to eradicate holiday hunger.”

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