A STOCKTON councillor told a meeting he could not understand why council funding was being given to holiday hunger programmes in the borough (Echo, Mar 2).

The man in question is Cllr Andrew Stephenson and there are no prizes for guessing which party he represents.

It appears that Cllr Stephenson (Conservative) could not understand why £50,000 of council funding had been given to school holiday hunger schemes that help youngsters and families get hot meals when schools are closed.

Stockton is in one of the top 10 per cent most deprived areas in the country with many children on free school meals which is why this scheme is so important.

But Cllr Stephenson won’t have any of this.

Clearly embarrassed part of his constituency is labelled "deprived", he’s spat his dummy out.

He doesn’t want his beloved Conservative brand bruised so he chooses to bury his head in the sand instead.

Compassion? Send the Tories to the bottom of the class.

In 1971, Maggie Thatcher removed all free school milk for over sevens. Then came the Tory advice cookbook, titled Hell’s Kitchen. In the early 1980s, the Tory party suggested low income families boil up the remains of a chicken carcass to make soup – a most delicious and satisfying dish.

Later, the same party told hard up students to live on cold porridge and water.

Yes, there’s nothing better than going to college on a bowl of cold porridge.

Stephen Dixon, Redcar