MARCUS: THE PRIDE OF BRITAIN
He gets Mirror award as PM urged to meet him
MARCUS Rashford has been given a Mirror Pride of Britain award for his hungry kids campaign. The Manchester United striker, who won a Special Recognition gong, said: “I’m humbled.” Boris Johnson was urged to meet Marcus after Tories rejected his plea to extend free school meals.
HUMBLE Marcus Rashford has dedicated his Pride of Britain award to the unsung heroes locked in a selfless daily struggle to stop poor children from going hungry.
The Manchester United striker had already won the hearts of the nation for his tireless campaign to extend free school meals for poverty-stricken pupils into the holidays.
And his efforts have now been rewarded with a Special Recognition gong in the Mirror’s annual awards.
It came as Boris Johnson was urged to meet the 22-year-old to thrash out a solution to families being unable to feed their children in 21st century Britain – after Tories sparked fury for voting against the school dinners plea.
Their cruel actions were described by the Children’s Commissi o ner as like something out of a “19th century novel”.
Marcus was selected by our panel of judges after they received thousands of nominations for his successful campaign that forced the PM into a U-turn on extending free school meals into the summer holidays.
He was handed his honour by Ashley Banjo – in a surprise moment that will be screened during the ceremony on Sunday night on ITV. It was one of the highlights of the Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards, in partnership with TSB.
The modest f ootball e r said simply: “No way. I am extremely humbled but I’d like to think that I am receiving this award on behalf of all of the incredible peopl e who have selflessly stepped up to support their communities during this pandemic. I have met many of them and I am no more deserving.
“Parents who have sacrificed everything to feed their children during this challenging time, people who are volunteering at the FareShare food banks day in, day out, people who are fighting to protect our most vulnerable children every minute of the day.
“It is those people who really make me
It’s high time for the Tories to reverse their cruel decision
DAISY COOPER LIB DEM ON FREE SCHOOL MEALS
proud to be British and really define us as a United Kingdom. So today, I accept this award on behalf of all of those who step up without the need for thanks and accolades. Ultimately no kids should miss meals. If we get that as the new normal then we have made a lot of strides forward.”
Mr Johnson has yet to reply to a letter from Marcus asking him to join a taskforce to end child poverty.
He was facing a growing Tory revolt after the vote against keeping the scheme open for 200,000 poor kids over the Christmas break. Businesses,
including cafes, takeaways and restaurants – already struggling due to the pandemic – have even pledged to step in to help.
And Labour last night warned it would call another Commons vote to shame the Government into action if Mr Johnson did not relent.
Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green said: “In the meantime, the PM should meet with Marcus Rashford and the taskforce to work on tackling the scourge of child hunger.”
Lib Dem education spokeswoman Daisy Cooper added: “It’s been simply amazing to see communities and businesses follow Marcus Rashford’s lead to make sure no child goes hungry this half-term. The Prime Minister should learn from this kind of leadership.
“Rather than trying to defend the indefensible, he needs to sit down with Marcus Rashford and face up to why there is such strength of feeling.
“It’s high time for the Tories to reverse their cruel decision to deny a lifeline to vulnerable kids.”
Children’s Commissioner Anne Longfield said she was “horrified” that children in one of the world’s biggest economies faced hunger on a daily basis. She added: “We are a wealthy country, it’s 2020 and to have a debate about whether we should make sure hungry children should have enough to eat is something which is strikingly similar to the chapters of what we would expect to see in Oliver Twist.
“We all have to agree now there is a problem with children going hungry.”
Tory MP Robert Halfon, who voted to extend free school meals, said a get-together between Marcus and the PM was a “no-brainer”.
Commons backbench Liaison Committee chair Sir Bernard Jenkin added: “I think we have to admit that we misunderstood the mood of the country here.”
Former Defence Minister Tobias Ellwood admitted he regretted voting to axe free school meals outside term times. And ex-Education Minister Tim Loughton said he was prepared to vote against the Government.
He added: “I think it was just politically a mistake.”
A Deltapoll survey for the Mail on Sunday found 71% of voters support the campaign by Marcus, with just 18% against.
And more than 2,000 paediatricians signed a letter urging the PM to extend free meals. Members of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said were “shocked” by the Government’s stance.
They wrote: “Few would disagree that one of our most basic human responsibilities is to ensure children have enough to eat.”
Cabinet minister Brandon Lewis tried to defend the Government.
He said: “What we are looking to do is ensure we deal with child poverty at the core, putting the structure in place that means even in school holidays children can get access to the food that they need.”