LABOUR MP Marie Rimmer said she is glad the government “finally saw sense” and reversed its decision to scrap free school meals over the summer holidays.
Following a campaign by Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford, the government has today announced a £120 million ‘COVID summer food fund’.
Nearly 1.3 million children in England – including 200,000 in the North West – are eligible for free school meals, which are usually provided in school during term-time.
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During the pandemic, the government launched a voucher scheme to provide this food support to children of low-income families unable to attend school.
After extending the scheme to cover the May half-term, the government said it would not continue over the summer holidays.
Labour has been lobbying the government to reverse its decision, but it was Manchester United forward Rashford who forced the own goal.
In recent weeks, Rashford has helped raise around £20 million for charity to feed schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic.
On Monday, the 22-year-old wrote an open letter to MPs, urging the government to do “whatever it takes” to protect vulnerable children.
“As a black man from a low-income family in Wythenshawe, Manchester, I could have been just another statistic,” Rashford wrote.
“Instead, due to the selfless actions of my mum, my family, my neighbours, and my coaches, the only stats I’m associated with are goals, appearances and caps.
“I would be doing myself, my family, and my community an injustice if I didn’t stand here today with my voice and my platform and ask you for help.”
Downing Street initially rejected the England forward’s pleas.
Undeterred, Rashford continued to turn the screws this morning, writing a series of tweets to his 2.8 million followers with the hashtag #maketheuturn.
Downing Street caved into the pressure this afternoon, hours before Boris Johnson was due to lock horns with Labour over the issue in Parliament.
Welcoming the decision, Marie Rimmer, Labour MP for St Helens South and Whiston, said: “No child in our country should be going without food.
“To have any child go hungry is a stain on our society and it is something we should always be striving to eradicate.
“Marcus Rashford knows from personal experience how tough life can be for young people in this country.
“Free meals can truly be a lifeline. Our childhood is the foundation for our lives, and being well fed is vital to our development.
“In this year of all years, families will be struggling more than ever. Many children have already missed out on a few months’ worth of school, we cannot allow them to fall further behind.
“I am glad the government finally saw sense and made a U-turn on this decision.
“But it really shouldn’t take as much pressure as it did to get the government to do the right thing for children in our country.”
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