PM Makes A £120m Meals U-Turn After Rashford Crusade

Boris Johnson completed a U-turn yesterday by promising £120million to feed the poorest children over the summer – after a campaign led by footballer Marcus Rashford.

- Martyn Brown

The Prime Minister was forced into the move amid mounting pressure from his own party following a letter from the England and Manchester United striker.

Rashford, who received free school meals when growing up, called for the scheme to be continued over the holidays to prevent more than a million children in England from going hungry during the pandemic.

Initially, the Government had rejected the call, pointing to an additional £63million handed to local authorities to benefit families left desperate by the crisis.

Tailspin

But the PM’s official spokesman yesterday announced a new £15-per-week voucher plan for all 1.3 million pupils currently eligible for the meals.

Downing Street said the £120million scheme was a “one-off” recognition of the struggles families faced as lockdown sends the economy into a tailspin.

A spokesman said: “The Prime Minister appreciates the problems facing families across the UK during these difficult times. To reflect this, we will be providing a Covid Summer Food Fund.