Free school meals: 200 children's authors condemn government

Shirley Hughes and Philip Pullman among signatories of letter decrying lack of provision

More than 200 children’s authors , including Shirley Hughes, Philip Pullman, Malorie Blackman and Matt Haig, have put their names to a letter decrying the government’s vote against providing free school meals for children in England during half-term.

This week, Conservative MPs rejected a Labour motion, inspired by the footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign on child hunger, by 322 votes to 261. Rashford has urged MPs to unite and stop being influenced by “political affiliation”.

Related: 'He does not give up': how Marcus Rashford became a hero to school kids

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