A row over school holiday food support centers on Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook café in Hastings, and a Reform Party council leader. According to reports, Ashley and Labour MP Helena Dollimore have been criticized after they highlighted concerns that East Sussex County Council ended school holiday meal voucher support. East Sussex County Council chief Andy Woolley tells them he plans to contact police, saying he intends to report Ashley over the way he and others have discussed the issue publicly. Ashley is described as accusing the council of failing children living in poverty. The dispute follows the council’s decision to stop meal vouchers during school holidays, prompting calls for action and public criticism of the council’s approach. The reports frame the situation as an escalation from political and public disagreement to potential criminal scrutiny, with Woolley indicating that police involvement may follow statements attributed to Ashley and the café’s role in providing food for children during the period in question. The outlets present the matter as an ongoing dispute between council leadership and those who oppose the voucher changes.
Reform council leader says he will report café owner over free meals row
A row over school holiday food support centers on Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook café in Hastings, and a Reform Party council leader. According to reports, Ashley and Labour MP Helena Dollimor...
- Barry Ashley runs the Grumpy Cook café in Hastings.
- East Sussex County Council stops school holiday meal voucher support, prompting criticism.
- Reform council leader Andy Woolley says he will contact police regarding Ashley.
- Ashley accuses the council of failing children in poverty.
- Labour MP Helena Dollimore is mentioned in connection with the public criticism of the council’s decision.
Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook café, has accused the council of turning its back on children in poverty.
3 hours agoEXCLUSIVE: Barry Ashley, who runs the Grumpy Cook café in Hastings, and Labour MP Helena Dollimore have been told by East Sussex County Council chief Andy Woolley that he plans to contact police after they named him in criticism when school holiday meal vouchers were stopped
8 hours ago
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