MPs have voted against extending free school meals into the holidays for the poorest children in the UK, in the middle of a pandemic. They should under no circumstances benefit from free or subsidised meals out of public funds themselves. If the public purse cannot afford to feed the poorest in our society, why are we feeding those least in need? Already well paid public servants, set to receive yet another generous pay increase, whilst millions face hardship, job losses and poverty, do not need the public to pay for their food and drink. Public funds should be spent on those most in need of them. Read more about what expenses MPs can claim for food here: https://fullfact.org/online/mps-free-housing-alcohol/ UPDATE 23/10/2020: Portia Lawrie, who started the petition, said: "I only started this petition yesterday because I was so angry that some MPs had rejected the chance in parliament, and Marcus Rashford's campaign, to extend free school meals into the school holiday. I wanted to point out the clear hypocrisy between that and the food and drink the public subsidise for MP's whilst denying support to those most in need of it." "I couldn't quite believe what I was watching unfold as hundreds of thousands of people threw their support behind it in less than 24 hours. It’s simply unfair that the government is refusing to use OUR money for one of the most basic responsibilities of a compassionate society - feeding hungry children. And the level of support this petition is getting shows clearly the level of hurt caused by those who voted against it." "Many MPs are pushing for free school meals to be extended into the school holidays, and I applaud them. But It’s time for the government to listen to them, and us, and make sure children across the UK do not go hungry any longer. Enough is enough."

The decision to completely cancel the 2020 graduation ceremony is not just disappointing, but heartbreaking for all of the students who have worked tirelessly to complete their degrees in the face of the incredibly difficult times 2020 has presented. Give us the ceremony we deserve, in the summer. This may involve adapting celebrations to take place predominantly outside, or restricting the number of guests, but cancelling the ceremony all together should not be an option.

We should not give publicity to those whose money has come either directly or indirectly from their opioid OxyContin

No child should ever go hungry in a rich country

The wedding industry has been hit hard by the covid-19 pandemic....so have all the couples who have had to postpone or cancel their weddings, often at considerable cost financially and emotionally. Some couples would like a ceremony that their loved ones can see whilst they are there to see it (which is acutely the case during a pandemic). Yes we need to give people time to object to ensure the marriages are legal and consentual but there shouldn't be a need to be specific (and pay for each time it is changed!) about the date and time, it isn't a Hollywood film and people aren't going to burst through the doors to object.

I am a wheelchair user and struggle to get around due to the issues above. Many wheelchair users will agree that they should think about us more and make it more wheelchair friendly.

The word “Kaffir” has roots in the Arabic language but has come to be a racial slur, usually directed at Black African people, around the world. It’s etymology with regards to the fruit and tree is not clear, however it is believed to have racial connotations. Lime leaves are increasingly becoming a cupboard and freezer staple in the UK thanks to the growth in popularity of Thai food on the British isles. The name “Makrut” is commonly used in Thailand and the name is free of any racial or negative connotations. “Makrut” is a more suitable term for our retailers to market this produce under. Britain has a proud history of multiculturalism and anti-racism. Whilst the term “Kaffir” may not be in common usage here, it’s meaning can still be felt by many who reside in the UK. Food is a cultural cornerstone and every dish we eat reflects thousands of years of human history, as well as trillions of years of natural history. It always reflect the movement and integration of peoples, and we can nurture and promote that by giving lime leaves the name they deserve. We can prevent the unnecessary use of an offensive racial epithet by people who simply want to enjoy good food.

Families are facing unprecedented hardship. The Child Poverty Action group stated today that: “We've reached a low point if in the midst of a pandemic we can't make sure children in the lowest income families have a nutritious meal in the middle of the day."

This is important to help the children to be able to concentrate on thre studies and not to go hungry

It is going to impact extremely unfairly on all londoners. It will particularly cause hardship to the poorest. It is totally unreasonable to impose such restrictions when the problem has been caused by Londoners following the government's advice to avoid travelling on public transport. According to Sadiq Khan the government lied about tfl's finances. The problem also results from the historical refusal of the government to finance public transport in London at a similar level to other capital cities.

The Covid-19 pandemic has unleashed chaos on all our lives, however, it's hit our elderly the hardest. The very people who were asked to shield away from loved ones for months and were warned they were most susceptible to the deadly virus, are now facing a lengthy wait for this vital protection. This mess must be fixed. Hundreds of readers have got in touch with the Glasgow Times as the threat of winter flu season looms. Many of the people we’ve spoken to feel the NHS boards simply don’t care about their health because of their age. This is a national scandal and it must stop. Please sign our petition to help us give our OAPS a shot.

Scotland's physical and mental wellbeing is suffering. Suicide rates are going up and not enough is being done to help freelance group instructors and Yoga businesses who are trying to ease the burden on the NHS AND support NHS workers who need that external support from dealing with the added stress put on them. These sole traders and small businesses are supporting people by helping improve their immune systems with gentle breathwork and physical activity in a safe and nurturing environment, improving physical and mental wellbeing with Meditation and Mindfulness and generally create a support network for those that are more vulnerable including trauma-informed Yoga. These sessions are lifelines to people and without more help and support are at risk of disappearing altogether.