Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook café in Hastings, has been told he will be reported to police by East Sussex County Council leader Andy Woolley after he criticised the council's decision to stop school holiday meal vouchers and began offering free meals to children.
Ashley stepped in after the council decided not to issue the vouchers over the summer, calling the move “shameless” and accusing the authority of turning its back on children in poverty. He has been providing more than 70 free meals a day, with donations from local businesses.
Council leader's response
Woolley claims he has been personally attacked online and accuses Ashley and Labour MP Helena Dollimore of inciting hate and potential violence by naming him in their criticism. In an email to Dollimore, Woolley wrote: “Your continued naming of me personally has led to an increase in online abuse of me personally and has now reached a point where you could be responsible for inciting hate and potential violence against me, a political official, and members of my family. You of all people should be aware of the increased sensitivity of these sorts of posts since the sad murder of Ann Widdecombe. As such I shall be reporting you both to the police and to the Parliamentary standards committee.”
Dispute over vouchers
Ashley said: “Hastings is one of the poorest towns in the country. And it is by every measure it's a deprived town. One in three of the children are living in poverty. And the vouchers, just to take those away without considering what they should be putting in place, without doing any risk assessment, without doing any impact assessment, it's beyond bizarre.”
He has been offering free meals to any child who needs them without requiring proof of poverty, to avoid stigma.
Dollimore launched a petition calling for the vouchers to be reinstated, branding the council's actions “totally unacceptable”. She responded to Woolley: “You are correct to say that I have criticised the decision. I know that many other people locally are concerned, including food banks and voluntary organisations. Politicians and members of the public should be free to comment on and criticise decisions made by their opponents. I know that Reform UK includes ‘defence of free speech’ as amongst its policies.”
Council's position
The council says it has not been given enough by the government to continue offering the vouchers. In a statement, Woolley said: “I believe there is a point where legitimate political debate crosses the line into conduct that places individuals at risk. Decisions are made collectively. What should not happen is for one individual to be repeatedly singled out, particularly where that is accompanied by claims that we believe are inaccurate and which have the effect of inflaming public opinion against that individual.”
The authority is providing targeted support using £7.3 million from the government's Crisis Resilience Fund and has expanded its Holiday Activity and Food programme. Woolley has not contacted police at this stage.
