Lia during an earlier Commons debate - but she was absent for this week's free school meals debate
GRIMSBY'S MP Lia Nici has defended her decision not to vote in last night's Commons debate on whether free school meals for needy children should be extended to all school breaks up until spring next year.
In a message on Twitter, she says: "The reason I haven’t voted in Parliament is that I’ve been working in Grimsby. I have been paired with an Opposition colleague which prevents me from voting."
In another Tweet, she wrote: "Although the free school meals vote was lost, I will continue to lobby to get as much support as possible for children and young people in Grimsby."
However, her statements sparked an angry response from other Twitter users who have deduced that she would have followed the Government line and voted against the school meals initiative which has been inspired by England footballer Marcus Rashford.
North East Lincolnshire councillor Debbie Rodwell replied:"You made a commitment in full council to support this issue.
"You should have been there and supported it.
I hope Grimsby remembers."
And Carla Linford tweeted: "Even without voting, you could be far more vocal about such issues.
"You represent one of the poorest towns in the country. People need help now.
"You are supposed to be representing your constituents - the poor ones, too."
There have also been calls from other sources for the MP to come clean on how she would have voted had she been in Westminster, but Ms Nici, who was brought up in a one-parent family, is staying tight-lipped.
Only five Conservatives rebelled against the Government to vote for feeding more than 1.4 million children during school breaks until Easter next year.
The bid, tabled by Labour to give each disadvantaged child a £15 a week food voucher, was defeated by 322 votes to 261.
See also: https://bit.ly/2ThAmJ5
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