Back of the net!
Premier League football has been off the cards for a while now, but Marcus Rashford has scored perhaps the most important goal of his life. The UK government has U-turned after pressure from the striker, and will now support free school meal vouchers for children throughout the summer. [Featured image: Marcus Rashford, Twitter]
The Manchester United striker wrote an open letter to Parliament asking them to reconsider scrapping free meals over the summer holidays. He also wrote a powerful piece in The Sunday Times detailing his own experiences in poverty and pleading for change.
An Open Letter to all MPs in Parliament…#maketheUturn
Please retweet and tag your local MPs pic.twitter.com/GXuUxFJdcv
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 14, 2020
#maketheUturn
Thank you for offering your platform for me to speak @thetimes pic.twitter.com/xvy4TRrxE6— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
Boris Johnson had previously announced that children would not be able to receive a voucher for a free meal each day over summer. Just this morning (June 16), ministers were defending this decision. However, immense scrutiny on the government following Rashford’s pressure eventually led them to U-turn and launch the new £120 million Covid Summer Food Fund. This will ensure the 1.3 million children in the UK on free school meals will receive vouchers for one meal a day.
I don’t even know what to say.
Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 16, 2020
Families are expected to receive a voucher to spend in supermarkets each week to buy meals and ingredients. They are said to be worth around £15. A number of Tory MPs also later pleaded for Johnson to change his mind.
“The Prime Minister welcomes Marcus Rashford’s contribution to the debate around poverty,” said the PM’s spokesman. He added that Johnson “fully understands” what the families are facing during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Just minutes after the news was revealed, Rashford has received immense credit for his heroic appeals online. For the government who initially wanted to deny these measures? Hmmm, less so.
Boris Johnson backs down on @MarcusRashford campaign for free school meals over the summer.
His spokesman says families with kids on free school meals WILL now get a voucher at the end of term to cover the 6 week summer holidays. £120 million to fund the scheme.
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) June 16, 2020
Marcus Rashford is Prime Minister
— Owen Jones (@OwenJones84) June 16, 2020
Well played, Marcus. Well played. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 https://t.co/v2dtpJEPGL
— Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 16, 2020
Marcus Rashford has had a more positive impact on the wellbeing of people in this country during this crisis than you, @MattHancock. Maybe you should take a pay cut.
— AFCAMDEN (@AFCAMDEN) June 16, 2020
Amazing work from Rashford 👏
Bloody footballers eh?
How ironic that a few months ago the Government were pointing a finger at footballers calling on them to do more, but now they have been shamed into a u-turn by one of them superbly using his platform to help others. https://t.co/7C43PmqgcF
— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) June 16, 2020
https://twitter.com/Merl_Alderslade/status/1272865906528526337?s=20
So it takes a footballer and mutinous Tory backbenchers to persuade the great populist Boris Johnson that feeding children is popular. Ah, that common touch.
— Dorian Lynskey (@Dorianlynskey) June 16, 2020
You are a total legend @MarcusRashford you brought people together to achieve this, you should be rightfully proud. I’m so happy xxx https://t.co/l8YFOfy8mf
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) June 16, 2020
Anyway, Marcus Rashford. Take a bow. This will change the lives of many who need it the most for the better. Let’s hope he makes it back from over the moon in time for Manchester United’s return to the Premier League this Friday, eh?