Rashford retweets free meal offers

Marcus Rashford has responded to the government voting down Labour’s motion to offer free school meals during holidays until Easter 2021 by retweeting businesses that have offered to feed children for free during half-term using the hashtag #EndChildPoverty. The Manchester United player said he was “blown away” by the offers, which come from an industry that is already facing unprecedented difficulties due to Covid-19.

Rashford tweeted: "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 #EndChildPoverty to your tweets so I can track them. I will share as many as I can."

Responding to the tweet, the Labour leader Keir Starmer said: "If the government won’t do the right thing, the great people of this country will. Incredible examples of local businesses and communities coming together to provide free meals to children over the holidays. But it should never have come to this."

Rashford spent yesterday visiting and helping out at a new foodbank. FareShare Greater Manchester is naming a new warehouse in honour of his mother Melanie, who accompanied him on the trip.