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Boris Johnson is being pressured to extend free school meals for vulnerable children.
More than 2,000 pediatricians have signed a letter telling the prime minister that child hunger must “transcend politics.”
The Labor Party has also threatened to take the issue back to the House of Commons if Johnson doesn’t budge.
Members of the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health said: “Few would disagree that one of our most basic human responsibilities is to ensure that children have enough to eat.
“We call on the UK government to match the promises of the Governments of Wales and Scotland and the Northern Ireland Executive, to continue to provide free meals to low-income children for the next several weeks and then extend this at least until Easter school holidays, as they have done in Wales and Scotland. “
The organization also praised Marcus rashford, 22, for his “powerful” work on the subject.
The Manchester United footballer, who received free school meals as a child, has been campaigning for the 1.3 million children who are eligible for the scheme.
His petition, which calls for various measures to end child food poverty, is close to 800,000 signatures.
Boris Johnson voted against extending the scheme
In June, he forced a government U-turn, resulting in meals being extended to cover summer vacation.
But a motion asking for an additional extension was rejected by Conservative MPs last Wednesday.
Councils from both sides of the political spectrum joined businesses like cafes and restaurants, many of them struggling financially due to the pandemic, to step up offerings of free meals for children in need.
They were encouraged by Rashford, who posted their efforts on his social media accounts.
Sir Bernard Jenkins, Conservative chairman of the liaison committee, suggested that the government should reconsider its stance not to extend free school meals to vulnerable children.
Sir Bernard told Sky News Sophy Ridge breakfast show on Sunday: “We have to admit that we have misunderstood the mood of the country here … the public wants the government to take the national lead on this, and I think the government you’ll probably have to think about that again. “
He added: “I think that when the chairman of the select committee on education does not support the government on this, and is a conservative, I think the government has to listen to the Conservative Party.”
Sir Bernard did not attend the vote on free school meals, but said he would have supported the government’s position.
However, he added that if there were another vote on free school meals “I would wait to see what the government says and how it responds to the situation.”
Anne Longfield, the children’s commissioner, told Sophy Ridge on Sunday that she believes the government should “provide free school meals.”
He added: “I have been horrified by the debate, I have really been disappointed by the debate of the last few days.
“We are a rich country, we are in 2020, and having a debate to make sure that hungry and vulnerable children have enough to eat is strikingly similar to what we would expect to see in the Oliver Twist episodes.”
Regarding the possibility of the government turning the issue 180 degrees, Ms. Longfield added: “I want this government to go from something that is a possibility and a discussion to something that is real.”
Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland secretary, defended the government’s position on Sophy Ridge on Sunday.
He said: “Our policy on this is the correct position because we seek to address child poverty at the center.”
Lewis also said that £ 63 million was available for local authorities to support people struggling.
Labor has said they will force another vote in the Commons if the government does not change its policy before the Christmas break and extends free school meals during the school holidays until Easter 2021.
Shadow Education Secretary Kate Green asked Johnson to meet with Rashford’s task force “as a matter of urgency” and even some of Johnson’s conservative colleagues have said he should reconsider his position.
Robert Halfon said meeting with Rashford was a “no-brainer” and Tobias Ellwood said extending meals over the holidays was a “simple and practical vehicle” to support families, adding that the government should “review” the issue.
Regarding the community’s effort to help feed vulnerable children, a spokesperson for No. 10 said: “I think the Prime Minister said during PMQ that free school meals will continue during the school term and that he wants to continue supporting the families during the crisis so they have cash on hand to feed the children if needed. “
Additionally, Sky’s chief political correspondent Jon Craig revealed on Saturday that Rashford had wrote a “personal” letter to the prime minister in early September but the footballer received no response.
