LONDON (UK) – Prime Minister Boris Johnson will provide a summer food fund for struggling families in England. The move came after he came under pressure from England forward Marcus Rashford and his campaign to prevent children from going hungry during the coronavirus pandemic.
When British ministers said school food vouchers would not be available over the long summer holiday, the 22-year-old Manchester United forward took up the cause and revealed how he had relied on such support as a boy.
Before a parliament debate, and as some Conservative Party lawmakers called for a change, the PM’s spokesman said the government would be providing a COVID summer food fund to the tune of around 120 million pounds.
“Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the prime minister fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this we will be providing a COVID summer food fund,” his spokesman said.
Rashford used a column in the Times newspaper on Tuesday to argue that while he may not have the education of a lawmaker in parliament, he did have a social education.
He has already helped to raise around 20 million pounds with charity Fareshare UK to provide meals to struggling families.
“I don’t even know what to say,” he said on Twitter of the change in policy. “Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.”
The move by the government earned widespread praise for Rashford from fellow sports stars, politicians and the mayor of London. “Well played, Marcus. Well played,” said former England captain Gary Lineker on Twitter.
“Good to see Marcus Rashford keeping up his record of scoring on debut in each new competition,” one comment said.
(Photos syndicated via Reuters)
This story has been edited by BH staff and is published from a syndicated field