- Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford has forced the British government into a major u-turn over free school meals.
- In England, about 1.3 million children from low-income households are eligible for free school meals, according to the BBC.
- Rashford had penned an open letter to the government asking it to extend the system to help families who had been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, however his plea was initially rejected.
- On Tuesday, however, Prime Minister Boris Johnson reversed his decision, and thanked Rashford for his "contribution to the debate around poverty."
Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford pushed the British government into a major u-turn over a decision not to fund free meals for impoverished children in England throughout the summer after a series of emotive tweets and a heartfelt letter to MPs.
In England, about 1.3 million children from households which earn less than £7,400 ($9,400) a year after tax are eligible for free school meals, according to the BBC.
Rashford, 22, had penned an open letter to the government which asked it to extend the system over the summer to help families who had been affected by the coronavirus pandemic, however his plea was initially rejected.
The England star's appeal to the government, however, came to fruition Tuesday, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson reversing his decision, and thanking Rashford for his "contribution to the debate around poverty," the BBC reported.
Children who are eligible for free school meals during term time will now get a six-week voucher for free meals during holidays.
"I don't even know what to say," Rashford tweeted after learning of Johnson's decision. "Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.
On Monday afternoon, after the Department of Education had shunned his initial appeal, Rashford had tweeted: "We aren't beaten yet, stand strong for the 200,000 children who haven't had a meal to eat today and keep retweeting #maketheUturn."
Shortly after, he then shared four tweets using the same hashtag which highlighted the struggles low-income families.
"When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown #maketheuturn," he said.
"When you turn on your kettle to make a cup of tea or coffee think of those parents who have had to default on electricity bill payments just to make ends meet having lost their jobs during the pandemic #maketheuturn.
"And when you head to the fridge to grab the milk, stop and recognize that parents of at least 200,000 children across the country this morning are waking up to empty shelving #maketheuturn."
Rashford concluded: "Recognize children around the country are this morning innocently questioning 'why?' 9 out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking 'why?' 'Why does our future not matter?' #maketheuturn."
Rashford, who says his family once relied on similar schemes, has raised over £20 million ($25 million) in partnership with charity FareShare to help provide meals for vulnerable families amid the coronavirus pandemic.
His letter on Monday asked the government to find its "humanity" and "reconsider the decision to cancel the food voucher scheme over the summer holiday period."
"This is not about politics; this is about humanity," he said. "Political affiliations aside, can we not all agree that no child should be going to bed hungry? Food poverty is a pandemic in England that could span generations if we don't course correct now."
Johnson's u-turn was welcomed by Labour Party leader Keir Starmer, who congratulated Rashford for his role in the policy's reversal.
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