CHANCELLOR Rishi Sunak was asked to “come clean” today over his role in the government’s decision to deny free school meals to 1.4 million vulnerable children.

Labour’s demand came as grassroots protests continued in the constituencies of Tory MPs who shamefully voted against the party’s motion that meals be provided over the half-term and Christmas breaks.

The Treasury was reportedly responsible for blocking the proposal, estimated to cost around £22 million a week.

However allies of Mr Sunak argued today that the Department for Education never asked the Treasury for funding.

Shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds, who wrote to Mr Sunak today, said: “It’s unbelievable that this government would refuse to provide food to the country’s poorest children at the height of the pandemic.

“And now ministers are engaged in a desperate blame game rather than admitting they got this wrong and putting it right.

“The Chancellor should come clean about his role in this whole sorry affair. Parents wondering how they’re going to feed their children during the school holidays have a right to know.” 

Grass-roots protests continued in the constituencies of some of the 322 Tory MPs who voted against Labour’s free meals proposals.

In Shipley in West Yorkshire a chalk board reappeared outside the office of Tory MP Philip Davies.

It carries the words: “Thatcher starved the miners, the Tories want to starve minors.” 

A petition from footballer Marcus Rashford, who has been spearheading demands for free meals to be extended in England over the school holidays, looked set to pass one million signatures last night.

“Those who have rallied around our communities, please continue to do so, you are the real pride of Britain,” the Manchester United star said.

The government’s social mobility watchdog also supported Rashford, saying 600,000 more children were in poverty than in 2012.

“We believe the government should do all it can to start reversing that trend,” a Social Mobility Commission spokesman said.

“It should begin by ensuring that all children are properly fed.”

Mr Sunak has set November 25 for next month’s spending review, in which Downing Street has suggested he could announce extra support to feed families through the holidays.

The chancellor will use his review to set departmental resources and capital budgets for 2021-22, and the devolved administrations’ block grants for the same period.