Game changer
Sturgeon cash boost as Man U ace’s campaign forces PM into U-turn
MARCUS Rashford, at just 22 years old, is a helluva forward, but he should be a goalie too.
He has just saved more than 1.3million children in Britain going hungry this summer.
Nicola Sturgeon and Boris Johnson fell into line on extending school meals in the lockdown summer break because of the Manchester United footballer.
Until his intervention, summer school meal provision in Scotland was patchy and dependent on which council area you lived in and virtually non-existent in parts of England.
Free school meals kept Rashford and his family out of hunger when he was growing up. He spoke and acted powerfully from experience that few modern politicians have.
In the early stages of the pandemic Health Secretary Matt Hancock took an easy swipe at pro-footballers, saying they should take a paycut during lockdown.
Rashford, in that time has started a charity that has raised millions to feed 400,000 children.
Hancock, in that time, has presided over the scandal of deaths in care homes and the highest mortality rates in Europe. That’s no match.
NICOLA Sturgeon yesterday announced funding for free school meals throughout the summer after a campaign by football star Marcus Rashford.
The Man United striker’s intervention forced Boris Johnson’s Tory Government into a U-turn on the issue.
In Scotland, the First Minister said £12.6million will be made available to councils to continue the scheme from the start of the school holidays at the end of the month to August 11, the expected date for pupils to return.
Sturgeon said: “We know families are under considerable financial pressure just now and free school meals are a vital help to many but they’re also really important to the health and well-being of children.”
It came as the UK Government pledged to extend its scheme through the summer following public pressure led by Rashford.
Johnson caved in to the England striker’s plea for kids in England who get free school meals to keep receiving food over the school break.
The striker had called on the Prime Minister not to forget underprivileged children.
Huge public support embarrassed Johnson into a major U-turn yesterday morning when the Cabinet agreed to extend the scheme.
A Downing Street spokesman said: “This will provide food vouchers, covering the six-week holiday period.”
Rashford, who had written an open letter calling for the scheme to be extended, thanked MPs for giving families “one less thing to worry about”.
He added: “This was never about me or you, this was never about politics, this was a cry out for help from vulnerable parents all over the country and I simply provided a platform for their voices to be heard.
“I stand proud today knowing that we have listened, and we have done what is right.”
The player’s appeal was based on his experience and he said he would not have become an England player without access to handouts in his youth.
He said: “Without the kindness and generosity from the community there wouldn’t be the Marcus Rashford you see today – a 22-year-old black man lucky enough to make a career playing the game I love.
“Wembley Stadium could have been filled more than twice with children who have had to skip meals during lockdown due to families not being able to access food.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer praised Johnson’s “welcome U-turn”. He added that the thought of millions of children going hungry this summer was “unimaginable”.
He said: “Well done to Marcus Rashford and many others who spoke out so powerfully about this issue.”
The £120million scheme will provide £15 weekly vouchers for 1.3million eligible children in England.
It will mean £12million in extra Barnett formula money for the Scottish Government’s budget.
Sturgeon paid tribute to Rashford’s “very powerful case”.
She also said £15million will be made available to councils to continue to provide extra support to those in severe poverty or who face other barriers in accessing food.