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Boris Johnson did not respond to a “personal” letter from Marcus Rashford in which the footballer asked the prime minister to join a task force he created to help tackle child food poverty.
Sky News understands that the letter was sent privately in September along with a public letter who thanked the government for the summer voucher program that helped families struggling to put food on the table.
The private letter to Number 10 said that the vouchers, which Rashford campaigned for, were only a short-term solution, and then called for “teamwork” to help feed hungry children in the long term.
Boris Johnson apparently did not respond to Rashford’s ‘personal’ letter
Sky’s chief political correspondent Jon Craig said: “In early September, Mr. Rashford wrote two letters.
“One, a public letter to all the deputies asking for support.
“And then a personal letter to the Prime Minister, in which he thanked the Prime Minister for setting aside loyalty and taking swift action in the summer, giving him credit for positively impacting the lives of millions of children across the UK.”
“He said he was grateful and said that the voucher scheme was only a short-term solution, and that we have to work to implement a long-term solution.”
“He shared some stories from the families he had met, they asked for teamwork and asked if he would join their task force, it is that letter to which he has not received a response, according to Rashford’s team.”
In response, a government spokesperson said they were committed to making sure the most vulnerable were protected, adding that free school meals will continue throughout the school term.
It comes after a conservative MP who sparked anger after commenting on local businesses donating free meals to children during midterm vacations said she regretted causing offense.
After dozens of organizations volunteered to help, North Devon Conservative MP Selaine Saxby posted a comment on Facebook that appeared to question the gesture.
She wrote: “I am delighted that our local businesses have recovered so much after closing that they are able to give away food and I hope they do not seek further support from the government.”
Since then, his post has been removed.
In a statement, Ms. Saxby said her comments were “out of context” and added: “Of course, I deeply regret any offense that may have been caused.”
Another Conservative MP, Ben Bradley, also said his words were taken “out of context” after a comment he made on social media appeared to imply that money from the free school meal vouchers ended up in “smoking rooms and brothels.”
The Mansfield MP responded to a tweet in which another user described the free school meals program as “£ 20 cash straight to a crack den and a brothel”, and wrote: “That’s what the vouchers actually did. WSF in the summer … “
Later, Bradley claimed that he was trying to say that giving children living in “chaotic” situations an “unrestricted voucher to spend on whatever is not useful.”
Labor MPs pointed out that summer coupons could only be used to buy food and asked for evidence of abuse of the coupon system.
