In a major U-turn, Boris Johnson has confirmed that the government will be providing free supermarket school vouchers to schoolchildren following a successful campaign by footballer Marcus Rashford.
The Manchester United and England star had been campaigning for weeks for the government to reverse a decision to cancel the scheme which would have helped numerous disadvantaged families put food on the table during the six weeks break from school an issue that has only been further highlighted by the coronavirus pandemic, which has kept many children out of school for months.
In an honest, open and frank letter that Rashford shared on social media on Monday, the footballer drew upon his own experiences as a child and the hardships that his mother went through in order to put food on the table for him and his siblings in a single-parent household. His response to the government's decision was one of triumph and unity.
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 MBE (@Marcus Rashford MBE) 1592309212
This decision is reported to cost the government £120m. This is in addition with a £63 million scheme that will help local authorities to provide children with free meals and activities during the holidays and until they are due to return in September. The previous system would have meant that many families would have gone without the food that free school meals would have provided for months.
Rashford's remarkable achievement saw him quickly hailed as a hero on social media, with many declaring him 'the leader of the opposition' or even the prime minister.
Nothing but respect for MY prime minister. https://t.co/LhzlCYdW8B— Hannah Al-Othman (@Hannah Al-Othman) 1592309200
yesssssss https://t.co/DtF8C7jY9Q— Nish Kumar (@Nish Kumar) 1592314108
I'm not easing lockdown til @MarcusRashford says it's okay.— Danny Wallace (@Danny Wallace) 1592313423
Sorry to state the obvious but the more you think about what Marcus Rashford has done in the last 24 hours (and bef… https://t.co/Z6UrBNskl1— Ralf Little 💙 (@Ralf Little 💙) 1592313018
Big up Rashford’s mum this is her day! 👏🏾— Rants 🇩🇪 (@Rants 🇩🇪) 1592314075
It’s not just the letter he wrote to the PM. Rashford has raised over a 100 million pounds for kids charity’s since… https://t.co/YqpDJ8rchS— TRILLY 🥷🏾 (@TRILLY 🥷🏾) 1592313880
Petition for Marcus Rashford to be the next Prime Minister 🙌 https://t.co/CMpJ5HfP4J— ESPN UK (@ESPN UK) 1592313071
A hero. An inspiration. One of our own. We are so proud of you, @MarcusRashford ❤️ https://t.co/haAb0m2I4u— Manchester United (@Manchester United) 1592314280
The government's announcement was also made just hours before Boris Johnson was set to oppose a similar motion that was going to be presented by Labour in the Commons on Tuesday afternoon which would have asked for money to be provided for impoverished families to buy food during the summer holidays.
After the U-turn was confirmed Labour tweeted 'We did it! Thank you to everyone who campaigned for #HolidaysWithoutHunger'.
We did it! Thank you to everyone who campaigned for #HolidaysWithoutHunger 🙌 https://t.co/pXgTzSKJXC— The Labour Party (@The Labour Party) 1592310114
Labour's own campaign was launched last weekend when they asked their followers to add their name to a petition asking for school meal vouchers to be made free to school children during the summer break.
The equality for disabled people charity Scope had also launched a campaign in April for the school vouchers to be made available for school children in England and Wales.
Labour's tweet also contained a retweet from Keir Starmer who thanked Rashford for his efforts. But despite the fact that Labour did have their own campaign, people weren't happy with the wording of Labour's tweet and accused them of taking any credit away from the footballer.
The cheek https://t.co/rJrGL9ir20— Nooruddean (@Nooruddean) 1592311667
@UKLabour Reword this tweet and give credit to @MarcusRashford not yourselves.— Kath 💙🙀😷❄️🇪🇺✊🏾 (@Kath 💙🙀😷❄️🇪🇺✊🏾) 1592311507
@UKLabour And by we you mean he— James Felton (@James Felton) 1592312440
@UKLabour sorry who did it https://t.co/3HeGnKLKbn— Beth McColl (@Beth McColl) 1592311868
@UKLabour is this marcus rashford’s alt because otherwise...— Mollie Goodfellow (@Mollie Goodfellow) 1592311480
Dkm this is Labour rn https://t.co/sQ5EX5rxva https://t.co/8FcVllwx9M— Evan (@Evan) 1592312706
https://t.co/jNtjbB9kyH https://t.co/AnOOF6i3eG— Stan Account (@Stan Account) 1592311655
https://t.co/g99jky54yE https://t.co/gS5MMlb8dK— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE) 1592312281
Many Labour politicians, including Starmer, had thanked Rashford for his efforts.
And London mayor and Liverpool supporter Sadiq Kahn even shared message from Man United.
Well done Marcus Rashford! You have forced the government to provide free school meals over the summer. Brilliant c… https://t.co/53jasgV7Ve— Diane Abbott MP (@Diane Abbott MP) 1592311265
A welcomed U-turn @UKLabour raised last wk but how sad it is that the fight has to be so hard for this Government t… https://t.co/W4trMmKciY— Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙 (@Dawn Butler MP✊🏾💙) 1592314029
Amazing work from @MarcusRashford and other campaigners to force this u-turn ahead of Labour’s vote in the commons… https://t.co/6AKWsBaU0D— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@Rebecca Long-Bailey) 1592310170
Take a bow @MarcusRashford and everyone who got behind the cause - the Government have u-turned. No child should g… https://t.co/IbXzTbrTEL— Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙 (@Dr Rosena Allin-Khan 💙) 1592309556
From one Mancunian free school meal kid to another I just want to say that you've done us proud @MarcusRashford. I'… https://t.co/2cEu3g9akO— Angela Rayner (@Angela Rayner) 1592313434
This is a huge U-turn and welcome news for the 1.3 million children who were at risk of going hungry. Once again t… https://t.co/VgoR0x9WCR— David Lammy (@David Lammy) 1592309423
This will - I hope - be the first and last time I echo a tweet by @ManUtd.. but well done @MarcusRashford. You are… https://t.co/mSJJGcJyVo— Sadiq Khan (@Sadiq Khan) 1592319349
Although Labour has campaigned for the same goal as Rashford, the popularity of his campaign has overshadowed others which were all striving for the same thing.
Regardless this should hardly be the issue here and it shouldn't overshadow a big achievement for all involved.
It's also a much better tweet than what the secretary for work and pensions, Therese Coffey tweeted after Rashford expressed concerns for families who might have essential energy supplies cut off if they can't pay their bills.
@paulwaugh Water cannot be disconnected though— Thérèse Coffey #GetBoostedNow #BookYourBooster (@Thérèse Coffey #GetBoostedNow #BookYourBooster) 1592291714
Coffey later declared that she was in full support of Rashford and his campaign and had worked to ensure that people could not be evicted and 'intervened with electricity suppliers on bills.'
Thankfully, at the end of this long tale, less kids are going to be hungry.
And surely that's something we can all celebrate?
indy100 made contact with the Labour Party before the publication of this article.