OLDHAM and Failsworth MP Angela Rayner says she has been contacted by distressed families from across the country after urging those affected by inadequate food parcels during lockdown to get in touch.

Angela has also attacked the government for allowing private companies to “profiteer” and make money by providing inadequate meals to hungry children.

Parents and carers of children who would normally qualify for free school meals are being given food packages as schools close to most pupils.

Those affected have been sharing pictures on social media of what they received in their parcels with one mum estimating that the contents of her box – which is supposed to cover school dinners for two weeks - cost around £5. That falls far short of the £30 allocated per fortnight for each child.

Ms Rayner, who is also Labour’s deputy leader, said: “This is disgusting, disgraceful and we will not accept this. The message that this sends is that some children are not even worthy of a proper meal and that because a family has fallen on hard times during a global pandemic they deserve nothing more than a few crumbs. It is dehumanising, humiliating, callous and cruel. Our kids deserve better.

“If you are in a similar situation and being given an insufficient food parcel, please email me. If the government is allowing companies to make money by providing cut price meals for hungry children, we will fight for change. No child should be going hungry

“Into whose pockets is the money for free school meals going? Who is profiteering from our hungry children being provided with disgracefully inadequate meals?

“The Prime Minister must fix this today. No child should be going hungry and free school meals are not a cash cow.

“Parents have been badly let down and it is children from disadvantaged backgrounds who will suffer.

“A £50,000 bonus for Dominic Cummings. £22bn wasted on failed test and trace. £1bn in contracts dished out to their donors and cronies yet this is what the Tories decide to give our hungry children to feed them for 10 days – it’s an absolute disgrace.”