Tory MPs and Gordon Brown back Rashford

rapid No 10 rejection of Rashford’s plea to ensure children remain properly fed during the half-term and Christmas holidays. And when a House of Commons debate takes place, Tory MP Robert Halfon, chair of the Education select committee, will spearhead support from his party’s ranks. Halfon has already questioned Education Secretary Gavin Williamson’s noncommittal response to Rashford. Sportsmail understands that Rashford views the petition as a platform to demonstrate public backing to end child food poverty. Among those backing it yesterday were former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah. Brown said: ‘Marcus Rashford deserves all our support. We hope we can see an immediate response from the Government before the autumn break to support low income families as we approach one of the toughest winters on record.’ The Welsh Government has been the first to act, committing yesterday to holiday food provision for the foreseeable future. The PM has already been forced into one U-turn by Rashford’s persistence — initially refusing the player’s plea for the Government to keep paying for the £15-a-week food vouchers over the summer, then changing his mind amid public outcry. After news of the latest rejection, Rashford responded: ‘It’s also not for food banks to feed millions of British children but here we are. ‘250 per cent increase in food poverty and rising... This is not going away anytime soon and neither am I.’