Sports - Football - All Teams
Updated: June 16, 2020

Marcus Rashford Sends Brilliant Message To UK MPs After Govt Makes U-Turn On School Meals

By Ridwan Yusuf
June 16, 2020
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Manchester United star, Marcus Rashford, has told the United Kingdom's Member of Parliaments (MPs) that his recent food voucher campaign was not about him, but "a cry out of help from vulnerable parents".

AllNews reports that on Tuesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson made a U-turn on school meals after the English striker's campaign.

Free school meals will now be provided to around 1.3 million children during the summer holidays - in a U-turn by the apex government sparked by a campaign from Rashford.

“Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the PM fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer,” the prime minister’s official spokesman announced.

Food vouchers - for £15 a week - will be made available to those children in England who are currently eligible for the scheme, and will last for six weeks in what has been called a "COVID Summer Food Fund".

Johnson praised Rashford's "contribution to the debate around poverty".

The government had previously insisted it would not award free school meals vouchers in England outside of term time, prompting the footballer to pen an open letter to MPs asking for the decision to be reversed.

Now, the option has been overturned and "proud" Rashford via his verified Twitter handle emphasised that "the well-being of our children should always be a priority".