Downing Street has refused THREE times to praise businesses for feeding the hungry kids Boris Johnson refused to help.
The Prime Minister’s Deputy Official Spokesman refused to offer any warm words to dozens of selfless businesses and councils who stepped in to feed the gap.
Marcus Rashford this morning hailed warm-hearted restaurants, cafes, local authorities and food charities across the country to his 3.5 million Twitter followers.
But No10 – which has refused to extend free school meals for the poorest kids over half-term or Christmas, despite doing so over the summer – refused to budge.
Asked if the Prime Minister welcomed local councils and businesses offering half-term meals to children who receive free school meals during term time, his deputy official spokesman said: “We have set out our position a number of times. There is no change.
(Image: PA)
“As we have set out before, we are in a different position now with schools back open to all and the vast majority of pupils back in school.
“The PM said during PMQs that free school meals will continue during term time and that he wants to continue to support families throughout the crisis so they have cash available to feed kids as they need to.”
Pressed a second time, he said: “We are in a different position now with schools back open but we have done a lot to make sure the most vulnerable in our society are protected,.
“That has included extending free school meals to support those eligible when schools are partially closed during lockdown, increasing Universal Credit by £20 a week and £63million funding for councils to provide emergency assistance to families with food essentials and meals.
(Image: Handsworth Inn/Facebook)
“As I have said before, while schools continue to play an integral role in the community, it’s not for schools to regularly provide food to pupils during school holidays.”
Questioned a third time if the PM would applaud businesses offering free food to hungry children or if he thought it was “unnecessary”, he replied: “You’ve had my answer on this. We have been clear of our position.”
Pressed yet again he said: “The PM’s answered this question himself on Wednesday. You’ve got his words from Wednesday.”
It comes after Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson said the council will step in to provide 20,000 children with the vouchers over the half term break.
“We’ve all seen Marcus Rashford’s campaign and I and my colleagues have all been really worried about kids going hungry in this city,” he told a council meeting, according to the Liverpool Echo.
(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)
“So today I am announcing that the council will stand by these kids and extend our own voucher scheme to make sure that 20,000 children will get the food they desperately need over the holiday.”
Marcus Rashford highlighted businesses helping children over the school holidays in a series of tweets.
The England and Manchester United striker has vowed to press ahead with his campaign to feed some of the poorest families after Tory MPs blocked the move in the Commons.
He tweeted: “Blown away by news of local businesses stepping up to fill the voucher scheme deficit during the October half term.
“Selflessness, kindness, togetherness, this is the England I know.”
Earlier this week the Prime Minister’s Press Secretary said there was no change of the government’s policy on free school meals.
He said: “We are in a different position now. Schools are open to all and the vast majority of pupils are back in school.”
He added while schools play an important role, “it’s not for them to regularly provide food during the school holidays.”
He said a £9m holiday and food programme supported around 50,000 children across 17 council areas. But he gave no sign it will be beefed up.
