Shop bars Tory MP for life for voting against extension of free school meals
Ian Bailey, owner of The Runners Centre in Lancaster, said he does not want his local MP’s business.
The owner of a running shop has banned a Tory MP for life for “voting to starve children”.
Ian Bailey, owner of The Runners Centre in Lancaster, Lancashire, has barred local MP David Morris after he voted not to extend free school meals over half term.
“I don’t want his business and I don’t want any other Tory MP’s business or any politician who voted against feeding the neediest,” the 58-year-old told the PA news agency.
“Everybody’s suffering with this pandemic… for the Government to vote against a basic principle of feeding minors is just so far below the belt.”
“Thatcher starved the miners… Morris starving the minors.”
Mr Bailey said he does not think Mr Morris has visited his shop before, adding: “I know that he does run but he’s never patronised his local business.”
“I can ill afford it. I run my own business and things are challenging but I’m putting my money where my mouth is,” he added.
“The money we would have spent on holiday but we’re going to give to the food bank and make sure those less fortunate are going to be looked after.”
Mr Bailey said the issue is important to him as he often works at a local homeless shelter, regularly seeing people with “a genuine need to be taken care of by society”.
Mr Bailey said he would encourage other business owners who felt passionate to use the same form of protest against their local MPs.
“We’re all in this together,” he said.
