Reform council leader Andy Woolley has threatened to report a café owner who served free meals to children to police. Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook in Hastings, made the gesture after East Sussex County Council removed school holiday meal vouchers for families over summer.
Free meals for children
Ashley offered free meals to children who relied on the vouchers at his not-for-profit café. Several local businesses helped, enabling the café to provide 70 free meals a day. Ashley criticised the council's decision, calling it "shameful."
Labour MP Helena Dollimore started a petition demanding the vouchers be reinstated and slammed the council's actions as "unacceptable," putting vulnerable children at risk.
Council leader's response
Woolley told Ashley and Dollimore he would report them to police, claiming they incited hatred and potential violence by naming him online. In an email to Dollimore, Woolley said the decision to stop vouchers was collective and that naming him led to increased online abuse, referencing the murder of Ann Widdecombe.
Dollimore responded that politicians and the public should be free to criticise decisions and noted that Reform UK includes "defence of free speech" among its policies.
Dispute over funding
The council says it lacks sufficient government funding to continue the vouchers. Ashley and Dollimore dispute this, calling it a political choice. The council has expanded its Holiday Activity and Food programme and provides support through a £7.3 million Crisis Resilience Fund.
Woolley stated that while political disagreement is legitimate, targeting individuals in a way that contributes to intimidation and threats is not. He has not yet contacted police.
