Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross has been called out for his brass neck praise of Marcus Rashford’s free school meals campaign after his party voted overwhelmingly against continuing the scheme.
Ross, who was absent when the Tory MPs snubbed the measures last week, called on the Scottish National Party to back plans allocating £15-a-week food vouchers for impoverished children over the school holidays.
Earlier this month, Scotland’s Social Security Secretary, Shirley-Anne Somerville, announced more than £10 million for the extension of free school meals during the Christmas, February and Easter breaks, as well as reimbursements to local authorities which offer support during the October holiday.
Five out of six Scottish Conservative MPs voted against extending the measures in England, with Ross an absentee.
Writing in the Daily Telegraph, he said: “I’m going to keep cheering on Marcus Rashford’s campaign in England.
“But in Scotland, we’re going to go much further and force the SNP to act on his example – by deeds, not just words.”
Praising the Manchester United and England striker, Mr Ross – a part-time assistant referee – said: “I’ve seen 22-year-olds score for Manchester United and England before – that’s impressive but it’s not extraordinary.
“Rashford’s political campaigns have been nothing short of extraordinary.
“They’re classy, professional, and he consistently keeps out of all the usual political mud-slinging that a campaign like this sometimes engages in.”
However, Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “It’s breathtaking hypocrisy for Douglas Ross to seek to attach himself to the inspirational campaign from Marcus Rashford to feed children from low-income families when he failed to vote for this at Westminster when he had the chance to do so.
“It’s a gross insult to Marcus Rashford and hard-pressed families from Douglas Ross after he so miserably failed to stand up to Boris Johnson over this issue.”
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