Marcus Rashford has turned Boris Johnson’s election rhetoric in opposition to him, urging him to honour his pledge to “stage up” the UK by introducing a complete bundle to finish little one poverty and starvation.
In an interview with HuffPost UK, the Manchester United and England star stepped up his marketing campaign to assist hard-hit households throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Providing free faculty meals over Christmas and different holidays was a primary step, Rashford stated, however can be little greater than a “sticking plaster” with out wider reforms.
Rashford is urging Johnson to herald main modifications to the welfare system, together with an finish to the Conservative two-child cap on Common Credit score and a rise within the worth of healthy-eating vouchers for pregnant mums.
Tens of millions of signatures
The footballer has already amassed over 1 / 4 of one million signatures for an internet parliamentary petition demanding pressing motion to cease kids going hungry – in simply over two days.
Boris Johnson was the topic of indignant this week when it flatly rejected Rashford’s proposals, arguing “it’s not for faculties to usually present meals to pupils throughout the faculty holidays” – a stance it repeated on Friday.
Rashford was awarded an MBE by Johnson for his campaigning on behalf of weak kids.
“What kids within the UK want proper now could be stability,” he stated. “A sustainable framework that protects them from falling by the cracks and that alleviates worry.
“Tens of millions of kids this morning have woken up petrified and confused. No little one within the UK must be waking up hungry, if they’ve slept in any respect, and must face the day worrying the place meals could be coming from.
“Vacation provision till the tip of the Easter holidays, while an important transfer, will not be an efficient technique of combating little one meals poverty. It’s one other sticking plaster. No little one wants a deadline looming.”
‘Give kids an opportunity’
Rashford continued: “There are 1.5 million kids within the UK this morning – 1.5 million kids within the UK in 2020 – who’re receiving no meals assist as a result of 2-child Common Credit score cap.
“The Wholesome Begin vouchers are a necessity for thus many however they only aren’t stretching far sufficient. A further £1.15 may make the most important distinction to over 290,000 kids.
“The ask stays the identical. We are going to settle for at least the implementation of the three Nationwide Meals Technique coverage suggestions. Coverage suggestions that had been constructed from intensive analysis and knowledge evaluation, as a part of a evaluate commissioned by these in energy and those that have the facility to guard our most weak.
“Meals stability is the muse of every part. Please, give our youngsters an opportunity. Let’s stage up as soon as and for all.”
Rashford’s marketing campaign has been praised by MPs of all events. Robert Halfon, the Tory MP and chair of the Commons training choose committee, stated: “Having trusted breakfast golf equipment and neighbourly assist as a toddler, he understands little one starvation greater than most.
“The Prime Minister ought to convey him to No 10 to hear and work with him and his process power on a long-term answer to finish little one meals poverty.”
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