Marcus Rashford’s campaign to help feed hungry kids in the UK is picking up momentum, as pressure mounts on the Prime Minister.
Boris Johnson rejected the footballer’s plea to extend free school meal vouchers throughout the summer holidays, which would have helped families struggling due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Now Mr Johnson faces a rebellion from some Tories, who support the 22-year-old footballer’s campaign, alongside some businesses and celebrities.
Local lad and Manchester United star Rashford, who relied on free school meals growing up, tweeted an open letter to all MPs, highlighting the issues many families in poverty face.
His campaign took off, and he won support from many politicians, celebrities, businesses and members of the public, including the full backing of Keir Starmer and Labour, as well as the Co-op, who pledged to extend free school meals throughout the summer holidays at its academy schools.
Now several senior Tories have come out in support of Marcus, with Robert Halfon, the chair of the education select committee, telling BBC Breakfast that he thought carrying on with the free school meals programme ‘would be the right thing to do’.
He added: “There are lots of food programmes across different government departments. If they just consolidated those programmes, they would almost have the money for the free school meals programme over the summer, which would cost roughly £110m.”
Former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, Ruth Davidson, tweeted she was confused why the scheme hadn’t been extended by Westminster, saying: “I didn’t have or need free school meals, but I went to a school where a huge % did. Food security during the holidays so important. It’s basic. Feed the kids.”
Conservative MP George Freeman also voiced his support, tweeting: “Free School Meals are a lifeline for many v low income families. Let’s do the right thing: extend FSM thru summer.”
Well done Marcus, keep up the pressure!
