LABOUR has said that it will force a Commons vote today on free school meals after the government refused to extend the scheme through the October half-term break.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has urged Tory MPs to listen to campaigners including Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford by voting to extend free school meals over the holidays.

Yesterday Mr Rashford urged concerned constituents to contact their MPs ahead of the vote but added that a long-term framework was needed to tackle childhood hunger rather than “another sticking-plaster method.”