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Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford’s attempt to extend free school meals during the holidays in England came as a blow after MPs voted against the measure.
The England international urged politicians to “unite” to protect the most vulnerable children and vowed to continue the campaign, writing on Twitter: “As long as they have no voice, they will have mine.”
It issued a statement after the Labor motion, which called for the plan to be extended during school holidays until Easter 2021, was defeated by 261 votes to 322.
Downing Street ruled out making a late U-turn before the vote, and Boris Johnson also addressed the Prime Minister’s questions: “We support low-income children in school and we will continue to do so.
“But the most important thing is to keep them in school and not be dragged into another national lockdown that takes them out of school.
“We will continue to use the benefit system and all income systems to support the children during the holidays as well.”
Rashford added that child food poverty “has the potential to become the largest pandemic the country has ever faced.”
“We must start working together and come together to protect our most vulnerable children. No more plasters stuck together. Let’s face this head-on,” he said.
It is time for us to work together. pic.twitter.com/xFPsgBiPQC
– Marcus Rashford MBE (arMarcusRashford) October 21, 2020
He said that the requirements of the Task Force on Child Food Poverty remain the same, adding: “Following private and public approaches, I once again invite Number 10 to come to the table with the task force so that together we can collaborate on the best way to combat child poverty in the UK. ”
Rashford continued: “I do not have the education of a politician, many on Twitter have made it clear today, but I have a social education after having lived through this and having spent time with the most affected families and children.”
“These children matter. These children are the future of this country. They are not just another statistic. And as long as they don’t have a voice, they will have mine. You have my word.”
Conservative supporter Brendan Clarke-Smith argued against the Labor proposal saying he did not believe in “nationalizing children.”
He told the Commons: “And we must focus on breaking the cycle where the first reaction is to look at the state.
“It’s a vicious cycle and we need to support families with early intervention and help with things like budget and employment.
“The welfare state is there as a safety net, but it is not a replacement.
“Where is the clever public relations campaign that encourages absent parents to take some responsibility for their children?
“I don’t believe in the nationalization of children.
“Instead, we have to go back to the idea of taking responsibility, and this means less celebrity virtue signaling on Twitter for power and more action to address the real causes of child poverty.”
Conservative Robert Halfon, chairman of the Commons Select Committee on Education, urged the government to continue to provide meals during the holidays while the coronavirus crisis was ongoing and called on ministers to work with Rashford.
Reacting to the vote, Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green said: “Boris Johnson and the Conservatives have gravely disappointed more than a million children and their families.”
“No child should go hungry during the holidays, but the government is blocking the actions necessary to prevent it.
“We pay tribute to Marcus Rashford and others for highlighting this incredibly important topic.
“This campaign has not ended and the government must reconsider.”
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