Local councillors have been accused of telling 'sob-stories' about how they are struggling in the cost-of-living crisis to ensure their own pay-rises - after they rejected debating a £660,000 boost for free school meals moments before. Tories at Central Bedfordshire Council unanimously voted against debating a motion for an inflationary 10 per cent uplift to the £6.6million free school meals budget - which provides just 82p worth of food per child per day after other costs. Millionaire Tory cabinet member Cllr Steve Dixon (right), who is one of the largest shareholders in a major UK developer said that 'it doesn't matter if you live in a cottage or a manor house, we're all affected by cost-of-living increases'. The motion to boost the authority's free school meals budget, made by independent opposition councillor Gareth Mackey (left) last Thursday, September 22, was directed to the council executive, who appear unlikely to approve it.