Rashford launches petition to end child food poverty
Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford has launched an online petition which urges the government to end child food poverty in the United Kingdom.
Our no.10, who last week was appointed an MBE in the Queen’s 2020 Birthday Honours, is asking for public support, in the form of 100,000 signatures, so that the petition can be considered for debate in Parliament.
Remember when I said I was going to need your help...
— Marcus Rashford MBE (@MarcusRashford) October 15, 2020
For the millions who do not have the platform to be heard.
Let's stand as a 'United' Kingdom to #endchildfoodpoverty
Sign the petition today: https://t.co/FvvpO6JYWX
He hopes to push through a votable motion in the House of Commons, with the ultimate aim of convincing MPs to implement the following three recommendations from the National Food Strategy policy’s recommendations:
• Expanding access to free school meals
• Providing meals and activities during school holidays, to prevent ‘holiday hunger’
• Increase the value of and expand the Healthy Start scheme
“For too long this conversation has been delayed,” said Marcus. “Child food poverty in the UK is not the result of Covid-19. We must act with urgency to stabilise the households of our vulnerable children.
“In 2020, no child in the UK should be going to bed hungry, nor should they be sat in classrooms concerned about how their younger siblings are going to eat that day, or how they are going to access food come the holidays.”
The petition, which can be viewed and signed here by British citizens and UK residents, launched at 07:00 BST on Thursday and received over 30,000 signatures in the first three hours.