Was the Government right
WELL done to Man United footballer Marcus Rashford for his campaign that has persuaded the Government to extend the school meals voucher programme in England over the summer holidays (Mail). We should be proud of his effort as a leading sportsman to bring this to everyone’s attention. Footballers have received a lot of criticism, some with justification, but many have responded to the pandemic with help and generosity. Mr Rashford’s determination to highlight the dreadful poverty too many children endure is to be applauded. I’m sure taxpayers would support their money being used in this way rather than bailing out multi-millionaire company owners to furlough their employees.
D. GORDON, Romiley, Cheshire. The response by Therese Coffey, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, to
footballer Marcus Rashford’s tweet ‘when having your shower this morning, think of those parents who have had their water cut off’, was accurate. It was not insulting, but to the point. If rich footballers want to get involved in politics, it would help if they got their facts straight.
WILLIAM SMITH, Carlisle. MARCUS RASHFORD was right to call on the Government to fund free school meals during the summer. The pandemic has affected those on low incomes disproportionately. Having come from a low-income family, Mr Rashford shows what can be achieved despite social conditions. The Government has made a U-turn, which shows activism works. Well done, Marcus. Now please can you campaign for an increase in Carer’s Allowance.
GARY MARTIN, London E17. are we governed by elected politicians or Premier League footballers? M. SHOPLAND, Okehampton, Devon. KUDOS to Marcus Rashford for striving to combat childhood poverty. However, in his praise of his mother, describing her as a hardworking single mum who brought up five children, he unwittingly reveals the cause of so much poverty. Dads matter.
DAVID TAYLOR, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcs. GOVERnMEnT funding of school meals in the holidays is admirable, but flawed. It will have to be paid back by everyone’s taxes, rich and poor. Instead, why not ask multi-millionaires to fund this scheme.
ALAN STACKMAN, Calne, Wilts. WHY do we have MPs when it seems that one footballer can tell the Government what to do!