BRADFORD West MP Naz Shah has criticised the Government, claiming they have denied more than 165,000 free meals to children in her constituency.

A Labour’s motion, which called for the scheme to be extended over school holidays until Easter 2021, was defeated by 261 votes to 322 – majority 61.

This prompted Ms Shah to criticise the outcome of the vote. She tweeted: “The Chancellor funded 223,000 meals through Eat Out to Help Out in Bradford West costing over £1.4m.

“The Tories voted to deny 165,390 Free Schools Meals during the holidays to feed 5,513 children in my constituency. Feeding these vulnerable children would cost £380,397, which would be 27 per cent of the Eat Out to Help Out scheme.”

Downing Street ruled out performing a late U-turn ahead of the vote, with Boris Johnson also telling Prime Minister’s Questions: “We support kids on low incomes in school and we will continue to do so.

“But the most important thing is to keep them in school and not tear off into another national lockdown taking them out of school.

“We will continue to use the benefits system and all the systems of income to support children throughout the holidays as well.”

Manchester United and England striker Marcus Rashford urged politicians to “unite” to protect the most vulnerable children and vowed to continue campaigning, writing on Twitter: “For as long as they don’t have a voice, they will have mine.”

The figures have been revised after an amendment from Naz Shah's office.