Protesters gathered outside the Conservative Party headquarters in Nottingham with empty plates, to urge MPs to reconsider a vote against free school meals during holidays.
Organised by the Nottingham People's Assembly the 'empty plate' protest was planned alongside other similar actions taking place in towns and cities across the country.
The group gathered outside of the Conservative Party headquarters in King Edward Street, Nottingham city centre on Tuesday, October 27.
Plates and placards were used to display messages such as 'end holiday hunger'.
It comes after a campaign launched by footballer, Marcus Rashford, to continue the free school meals offering that was put in place during the summer, was rejected during a vote by MPs.
However, businesses across Nottinghamshire and beyond have been pledging their support to help feed families through the holidays by offering free lunches for children.
Louise Regan, chair of Nottingham People's Assembly, said: "The Government has wasted billions of pounds of public money on a test and trace system that doesn't work.
"So their decision not to extend free school meals for the poorest during the pandemic has rightly outraged the public.
"Our protest is part of a nationwide movement to shame the government into changing its mind and extending the free school meals support as demanded by Marcus Rashford and supported by the public."
A similar demonstration was also held by the Rushcliffe Labour Party outside Conservative MP for Rushcliffe, Ruth Edwards' office in Rectory Road, West Bridgford.
Cheryl Pidgeon, Rushcliffe Labour candidate in the last election, said: “There are 1,200 children in Rushcliffe who are entitled to free school meals and that shows the size of the problem even in a relatively well-off area. All of those are at risk of hunger because of Ruth Edwards’ vote – I wonder how that makes her feel?
"A number of Tory MP’s voted against their government but she was either too frightened or just uncaring to do the same. It was a shameful decision and now she needs to do the right thing and admit she was wrong.”
Paul Ruane, chairman of the Nottingham City Conservatives said: "This is an extremely challenging time for everyone in our city and across the country, so it is understandable that people feel deeply anxious over this issue (as these protests clearly demonstrate).
"But we will continue to support the Government's targeted measures of working with local councils to ensure that no child goes hungry this winter."
MP Ruth Edwards was all approached for comment.
