DOZENS of empty plates were placed at the entrance of Weymouth Conservative Club in protest against MPs voting against extending free school meals for eligible children throughout the half term holiday.

The empty plates had a number of messages directed at South Dorset MP Richard Drax and other Conservative MPs, including “Vote again – change your mind” and “Drax – have you ever gone to bed hungry?”

Dorset’s Low Pay - No Way! group and other organisations placed the empty plates at the doorstep of Weymouth’s Conservative Club on Dorchester Road yesterday (Monday, October 26).

Similar protests have been carried out across the country, targeting the homes and constituency offices of MPs.

It comes after 322 Conservative MPs voted against a motion calling for the free school meal voucher scheme to be extended over holidays until Easter 2021.

Dorset Echo: The plates outside the Weymouth Conservatives Club. Picture: Low Pay - No WayThe plates outside the Weymouth Conservatives Club. Picture: Low Pay - No Way

Richard Drax and West Dorset's MP Chris Loder were among those who voted down the motion.

Speaking for Low Pay - No Way! Jenny Lennon-Wood said: “The decision not to extend free school meals through the holidays was taken by well-paid MPs whose House of Commons meals are subsidised by taxpayers.

“The majority of children receiving free school meals have hard-working parents in such poorly paid jobs that they struggle to make ends meet.”

She added: “We are not targeting the Weymouth Conservative Club, it was a focal point. It is more directed at the MPs who voted against free school meals.”

Dorset Echo approached Richard Drax for a comment about the protest but did not receive a comment in time for publication.

He previously told Dorset Echo why he voted against the motion, stating: "We have supported the scheme over the partial school closure and summer where eligible children did get free school meals because of the unprecedented time when schools were closed.

"However, the view of the Government is that now that schools are open, they can feed children during school terms and not during the holidays which was always a temporary fix.

"The Government believes, and I concur, that the best form of help comes from the welfare system and not through schools - schools are not welfare providers.

Dorset Echo: The plates were cleared from the entrance of the Weymouth Conservative ClubThe plates were cleared from the entrance of the Weymouth Conservative Club

"We have put £9 billion into the welfare system because of these unprecedented times. From that money, each recipient of Universal Credit will receive an additional £1,000 a year which can be used by parents to help cope with this situation.

"The welfare system is here to do this very thing and there is money there for parents that need it."

Weymouth Conservative Club declined to comment on the matter.