David Rutley was among the Conservative MPs to vote against a motion that would see the government free school meals for children in lower-income children during the holidays.

The Macclesfield MP joined the vast majority his party colleagues to block the move which has been pushed forward by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford MBE.

The striker has been leading the campaign for the extension of free school meal provision for children from low-income families during half term and Christmas holidays and had called for MPs to "unite" and ignore "political affiliation".

On Wednesday evening, MPs rejected (by 322 votes to 261) the Labour motion to offer children free school meals during holidays until next Easter. The government says they are helping low-income families through the welfare system.

Labour councillors in Macclesfield had been urging Mr Rutley to back the plans.

In his column for Macclesfield Nub News, Cllr Barber wrote: "This isn't about party politics, but about human decency. Unfortunately, the Conservative government have decided to ignore Dr Rashford's campaign, playing party politics with it when criticised."

Cllr Ashley Farrall wrote to the MP, saying: "We are in an unprecedented time with all the stress and worry of the pandemic second wave, rising unemployment, furlough, reduced wages; the last thing that the parents of Macclesfield should be worrying about is if their kids are going to eat this Christmas."

Cllr Barber also announced in his column that he is setting up a "taskforce" with the aim of working to fight child food poverty across Cheshire East.

Only five Conservative MPs rebelled against the government to vote in favour of the motion - these being Caroline Ansell, Robert Halfon, Jason McCartney, Anne Marie Morris and Holly Mumby-Croft.

Earlier today, Home Office minister Kit Malthouse told the BBC that the government has supported low-income families with a £20 per week increase in Universal Credit and giving £63 million to help councils with hardship funding.

Responding to last night's vote, Mr Rashford said: "Child food poverty has the potential to become the greatest pandemic the country has ever faced."

Macclesfield Nub News has contacted Mr Rutley's office for comment.