Why the Prime Minister called Rashford this weekend
Marcus Rashford had two reasons to celebrate this weekend, with Manchester United's excellent win at Everton preceding some brilliant news off the field, as he learned his anti-poverty campaigning had again led to the UK government agreeing to support struggling families in the way he had personally requested.
The Reds striker revealed he received a phone call from Boris Johnson, in which the Prime Minister explained the details of a winter grant scheme that will help people in financial difficulty to buy food and pay their utility bills from December to March.
Rashford, who was recently awarded an MBE for his charity and community work, told the BBC: “Following the game, I had a good conversation with the Prime Minister to better understand the proposed plan, and I very much welcome the steps that have been taken to combat child food poverty in the UK.”
“The steps made today will improve the lives of near 1.7 million children in the UK over the next 12 months, and that can only be celebrated.”
Expanding further on his conversation with Johnson and a change of approach by the government, Rashford added: “We asked for three things. They managed to U-turn on two and they're willing to discuss the third, so it's pretty much close to a perfect day for me.
“On the phone he kept thanking me but then in the back of my mind, I was thinking it's the families that deserve the U-turn.
“I actually thanked him on behalf of the families because I know 100 per cent they would have wanted to say thank you to him if they had the chance.
“I am fully committed to this cause, and I will fight for the rest of my life for it, because in my mind, no child should ever go hungry in the United Kingdom.”