TO vote against extending free schools meals shows a couple of things about our Conservative MPs.

Either one) they care so much about their place in the party that they are too cowardly to step out of place and vote with colleagues from the opposition.

Or two) they’ve never been in the position of needing free school meals.

We truly hope it’s the second option. We hope their vote came from the privilege of not being the child of someone who had to choose between paying for electricity and food.

Because to toe the party line when you’ve been a working class child, when you needed school meals, when you know what it is to see a parent cry because they've lost their job and have no money, is a complete betrayal of children just like you who need your help.

You wouldn’t be able to sleep at night would you. You'd be doing everything in your power to ensure that children who come from a place like you do are able to fulfil their potential, wouldn't you. 

There aren’t many times that one is disappointed in politicians, because we’ve come to expect a certain level of mediocrity thanks to our wonderful Prime Minister. But truly, we are disappointed today.

Some of us grew up on council estates. Some of us had parents working three jobs to earn a crust. Some of us had holes in our clothes because our parents could not buy us new clothes. Some of us would not be here without school meals.

Obviously, as a newspaper, we strive to give balance and we give our MPs the opportunity to respond to claims or give their side. After all, the county voted them in. 

But on this one, elected officials, you can try and dress it up any way you want - you can try and justify why it’s been up to a footballer to make this happen and not you, you can try and make X claim about X budget (and then, we bet, vote for yourself to get a nice juicy raise) - but you won’t be changing our minds.

Voting against feeding vulnerable children is Dickensian. Don’t try and tell us the country doesn’t have the cash. We see some of the other rubbish you spend our hard-earned money on.

We hope you remember all the poor children who will go hungry in the holidays whilst you’re having a lovely break.

And we bet you hope the people you are paid to represent forget how you voted come election day.