Marcus Rashford has been on a mission to end child hunger in the United Kingdom and he has come up against some significant barriers – but now he has an army behind him.
You might recall back in June, virtually an eternity ago in this Covid-19 world, that the Manchester United striker shamed the UK Government into doing a complete U-turn on their plans to stop the free meals school voucher over the summer holidays.
The 22-year-old was even awarded an MBE following his incredible work, which also included setting up FoodShare, a charity that has fed millions of children this year. But he hasn’t been sated by his successes to date, and promised Boris Johnson’s government that he wasn’t going away on this issue.
And so he was a man of his word, speaking passionately this week about the need to extend the free meals scheme into the upcoming school holidays.
Paying close attention to the Commons today and to those who are willing to turn a blind eye to the needs of our most vulnerable children, 2.2M of them who currently qualify for Free School Meals. 42% newly registered. Not to mention the 1.5M children who currently don’t qualify.
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
Why keep punishing our most disadvantaged? Give our children a chance.
All eyes on the Commons ????
And just for clarity, the #endchildfoodpoverty debate on a long-term sustainable framework to combat this issue is still to come.
This is not going away and neither am I…
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
Unfortunately, the Labour party’s motion to extend the scheme was voted down in parliament. Some Conservative MPs responded to Rashford’s pleas – but seemingly missed the point.
No one will be turning a blind eye and it is wrong to suggest anyone would.
Not destroying the currency with excessive QE is also one of our duties. https://t.co/EeDp1x3d85
— Rt Hon Steve Baker MP FRSA ???? (@SteveBakerFRSA) October 21, 2020
Embarrassingly for Steve Baker MP, he didn’t have replies turned on for his response to Rashford’s tweets.
At least turn on your comments and let me respond Steve. I very much welcome conversation on this. https://t.co/ly329QWMOp
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
Rashford has just bodied PSG and is using his day off to tell MPs to switch on their location. What a man. And people worried he was too nice in front of goal…
— Carl Anka (@Ankaman616) October 21, 2020
Ben Bradley was another who simply did not treat the issue with the necessary compassion and empathy.
Gov has lots of responsibilities: supporting the vulnerable, helping people to help themselves, balancing the books. Not as simple as you to make out Marcus. Extending FSM to sch hols passes responsibility for feeding kids away from parents, to the State. It increases dependency. https://t.co/AGelqU78sz
— Cllr Ben Bradley MP (@BBradley_Mans) October 21, 2020
Tories:
Here's £522m for people who can afford it to spend on NandosAlso Tories:
We can't feed vulnerable hungry kids, it will increase their dependency on food— James Felton (@JimMFelton) October 21, 2020
Rashford was able to argue against the MP’s point on not just an economic level, but on a humane one too.
Ben, the economy already pays a high price for child hunger. If children were fed properly you would increase educational attainment and boost life chances. @KelloggsUKI calculated we would spend at least £5.2M a year on lost teaching hours as teachers are caring for hungry kids https://t.co/mZTI3YFYz7
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
And for a more humane response, since March, 32% of families have suffered a drop in income. Nearly 1 million have fallen off the payroll. This is not dependency, this a cry for help. There are no jobs!! 250% increase in food poverty and rising. Nobody said this was simple…
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
For Rashford, it’s not even a matter of party politics or winning political battles – he literally just wants starving children to be fed – but the Conservatives seem hellbent on turning it into a game of political football, if you’ll allow the tired sports analogy.
Leaked memo shows Tory whips have emailed their MPs asking them to make “suggested interventions” in the @marcusrashford free school meals debate… one “key political point is that Labour didn’t offer free school meals during holidays while in govt pic.twitter.com/4sgkCOP3G4
— Alex Wickham (@alexwickham) October 21, 2020
The Wythenshawe man doesn’t just talk about this issue either. He puts it into action too, doing active charitable work to help those in need.
I’ll be with @FareShareUK tomorrow to support the real superstars, our volunteers.
The food banks are in for a very tough Winter. Most are currently distributing 6 food packages per min and we are only in Oct.
To find out how you can help:https://t.co/531h85s22I
Thank you ♥️
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
So glad to get the chance yesterday @FareShareGtrM to tell @MarcusRashford and his mum Melanie how proud we all are of them and how 99% of people are right behind them.
Even better to see businesses and councils across the country proving it today. ????????????#NoChildGoesHungry pic.twitter.com/xnuTvKrdSk
— Andy Burnham (@AndyBurnhamGM) October 23, 2020
Although the government are not behind him, Rashford has won widespread support for his appeal. Not just from the public, but also companies big and small, from Wigan and Warrington to Liverpool and Anglesey, as well as local councils.
Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term. Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know ????????????????????????????
Add #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTY to your tweets so I can track them. I will share as many as I can ♥️
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 22, 2020
We’re with you all the way @MarcusRashford, so, again, we’re extending our free school meals scheme throughout half term at our 25 @CoopAcademies. 5,000+ students who normally receive government funded free school meals will receive vouchers.
— Co-op (@coopuk) October 16, 2020
We're behind @MarcusRashford no parent should ever struggle to feed their children. Baker's are offering free grab bags for all children on free school meals during half term. Please call us or message us and we'll have their lunch ready to go from 12pm that day #AllKidsMatter pic.twitter.com/oYI81xfHhV
— Baker's (@bakerstearoom) October 22, 2020
We at The Courtyard stand with @MarcusRashford not with the 322. Please share this information with anyone you know can help out next week. pic.twitter.com/lKHgaaRLvu
— Harlay's (@harlayslowton) October 22, 2020
We're giving every pupil in need free meal vouchers over the half term break. That's to ensure 5,000 primary and secondary school pupils don't go hungry. Plus, we're delivering 600 breakfasts every morning to pupils. #ENDCHILDFOODPOVERTYhttps://t.co/4ZbJVqfM2i
— H&F Council (@LBHF) October 22, 2020
We’re supporting footballer, @MarcusRashford in his campaign to provide free school meals during school holidays.
Despite the government’s refusal to provide funds, we want to make sure that no child in Oldham goes hungry.
— Oldham Council (@OldhamCouncil) October 23, 2020
It’s unsurprising then that Rashford has been clearly the most popular figure on Twitter this past week.
The John Lewis advert this year should be a gentle scroll through Rashford’s tweets for the last 24hrs. Town after town after town.
— Gabby Best (@best_gabby) October 23, 2020
Tory MPs in March: “Footballers should do something to help during a pandemic”
Marcus Rashford: Campaigns to end child food poverty
Tory MPs now: “Stick to football”
— Hasan Patel ???? (@CorbynistaTeen) October 23, 2020
The timeline of @MarcusRashford is truly astonishing. A remarkable reserve of empathy and morality from an incredible human being, who has inspired a mass outpouring of goodness and decency. The perfect anecdote to the bile from the government and their media enablers.
— Colin Millar (@Millar_Colin) October 23, 2020
Rashford is such a wonderful man, and has really shown how cruel those politicians and their supporters are
— Zito (@_Zeets) October 23, 2020
2020’s been a mad one, but I didn’t think I’d end up idolising a Man Utd player, tbh…
What a fella, @MarcusRashford.
— Ben Webb (@BenWebbLFC) October 23, 2020
Football clubs from around the world showed their support for him and his cause on social media, too.
Keep going Marcus Rashford ????
— AS Roma English (@ASRomaEN) October 23, 2020
Incredible work from @MarcusRashford ????
— Sevilla FC (@SevillaFC_ENG) October 23, 2020
Identifying a problem, bringing attention to it and taking action. Bravo @MarcusRashford! ????
— Valencia CF (@valenciacf_en) October 23, 2020
Marcus Rashford. ❤️
That's it. That's the tweet.
— West Block Blues – Bengaluru FC (@WestBlockBlues) October 23, 2020
And there’s a simple way to add your voice to the fight to end child hunger.
If you can do one thing for me tonight, sign the petition ????????https://t.co/FvvpO71zOv
It’s time we put party politics aside and worked together to find a long-term sustainable solution to child food poverty in the UK.
Implement the 3 asks.
I appreciate you all ♥️
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) October 20, 2020
Now there’s just the small matter of a Premier League match to contend with this weekend.
https://twitter.com/FootyHumour/status/1319617355077554176?s=20
Read: Why Luis Campos should be Man United’s DOF
See Also: Will Tottenham ever stop being so Spursy?
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