Hancock’s own goal as he calls Reds ace ‘Daniel’
“Being that voice for people who didn’t really have the platform to speak out as much as they would like to.”
He said: “It was a nice conversation to have with him, and just that we understood each other.”
Rashford wrote an open letter published in the M.E.N. on Monday, asking the government to reverse its decision not to award free school meals vouchers to vulnerable children outside term time.
A Department for Education spokesman said later that day that the national voucher scheme was not being extended.
But, amid mounting pressure, Number 10 said on Tuesday that the government would provide a Covid Summer Food Fund to reflect the fact that families face an
HEALTH Secretary Matt Hancock made an embarrassing blunder as he got Marcus Rashford’s name wrong during an interview – calling the United striker ‘Daniel’.
Discussing the government’s free school meals U-turn on TV, Mr Hancock praised the 22-year-old England international for his campaigning.
He said: “Righty-ho. Well, I’ll tell you what happened, the Prime Minister talked to Daniel Rashford, he considered it and made his decision.
“I think it’s terrific, I’m in favour of making sure we get as much support as possible for people in difficult circumstances. I think that Marcus Rashford has done a great thing in the campaigning he’s done.”
In response to the gaffe, Rashford said: “That’s all right – I’ve been called worse names than that.”
Football stars reacted on Twitter. Former United full-back Gary Neville quipped: “Morning Daniel [laughing emoji] ( @ MarcusRashford )”
In response to his mistake, Mr Hancock tweeted: “Too early. But in all seriousness Marcus, you’re a credit to the nation.”
Rashford replied, saying: “As I said yesterday this was never about politics or me. The PM didn’t need to U-turn the decision but I’m thankful he did. I asked you to listen and you did that so on behalf of all mums likes mine, dads and carers that are struggling across the country, thank you.”
Matt Hancock
‘unprecedented the holidays.
Mr Johnson congratulated Rashford on the campaign, saying the policy change was the ‘right thing to do.’
The PM told the daily Downing Street press conference: “Clearly free school meals should generally apply in term time, that’s what they are there for.
“But we have to understand the pressures families are under right now and that’s why we’ve responded as we have.
“As I say, I think it is the right
situation’ over thing to do and it will help the kids from the families who really need it.”
It is understood that payment will be in the form of a oneoff six-week voucher given to eligible families at the end of term to use in supermarkets.
The vouchers will amount to £15 a week per child and some 1.3 million children in England will be eligible, the prime minister’s spokesman said.
The scheme will not continue beyond this summer, Downing Street said.
He was just grateful that someone had an opinion and shared it with people Marcus Rashford on his chat with Boris Johnson