Marcus Rashford ‘won’t accept any less’ as school meals petition races past 200,000 names

Marcus Rashford has reaffirmed his call for an expansion to the free school meals scheme – as his petition raced past 200,000 names.

The footballer wants the scheme extended to all school holidays and to households on Universal Credit.

He says it would reach more than a million children currently missing out.

Rashford’s petition for the measure went live on Thursday and surged through the 100,000 threshold to be considered for parliamentary debate in just 10 hours.

By 10.30am on Friday, it was on 202,000 names and climbing.

The Manchester United star celebrated the milestone, tweeting a graphic of campaigners’ demands.

“We won’t accept any less than these 3 asks,” he said.

“This is a matter of urgency to stabilise the households of millions – unemployment, end of furlough, personal loss, illness…

“200k signatures – the British people care. I would urge those in power to demonstrate that they do too…”

Rashford took a swipe at the government on Thursday – saying he wasn’t “going away anytime soon” – when it pushed back against his latest campaign.

Number 10 insists it took meaningful action after Rashford’s initial campaign, but that it is not appropriate to go any further.

“It’s not for schools to regularly provide food to pupils during the school holidays,” said a Downing Street spokesman on Thursday.

“We believe the best way to support families outside of term time is through Universal Credit rather than government subsidising meals.”

Rashford, 22, was recently made an MBE for his services to vulnerable children in the Queen’s birthday honours.

He forced a U-turn on free school meal vouchers for eligible pupils over the summer holidays after explaining how similar schemes had helped him.

But the Downing Street spokesman said circumstances had changed.

“We took that decision to extend free school meals during the pandemic when schools were partially closed during lockdown,” he said.

“We’re in a different position now with schools back open to all pupils.”

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab backed that position when speaking to Sky’s Kay Burley on Friday morning.

He said he had “a lot of time” for Rashford and understands he is “talking from the heart”.

However, he said the right measures were now in place, such as giving local authorities “emergency money precisely to deal with these sorts of scenarios”.

“We’ll always listen to what Marcus has got to say,” said Mr Raab.

“But I think we’ve put the right package in place already, and of course parliament can debate these issues and it’s quite right that they should.”

Rashford is backing three National Food Strategy recommendations.

They also include the expansion of school holiday activities and an increase in the value of Healthy Start vouchers from £3.10 a week to £4.25.

The vouchers offer free milk and produce to pregnant mothers and families with young children.

(c) Sky News 2020: Marcus Rashford ‘won’t accept any less’ as school meals petition races past 200,000 names