MARCUS Rashford has written to Boris Johnson demanding an urgent review of the scandal-hit free school meals system.
The footballer warned the PM needy kids must not “bear the brunt” of the Covid crisis by being denied nutritious meals.
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His letter, signed by chefs Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, Jamie Oliver and Tom Kerridge, urges No10 to carry out an “urgent review” of the entire system.
The Manchester United striker’s intervention comes after shocked parents put pics online of meagre food parcels sent out under the scheme.
Rashford, 23, insisted: “In the first lockdown, 2.3 million children experienced food insecurity and during the 2020 summer holidays 850,000 children reported that they or their families visited a food bank.
“Free school meals are an important part of the safety net that protects children from hunger and poor nutrition.
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“We believe the review should be debated in Parliament and published before the 2021 summer holidays.”
They want ministers to consider if more kids should get access to free school meals, if the funding should be hiked, and how to make sure the food is healthy.
Ministers said the boxes fell well short of their standards, and promised to offer supermarket vouchers instead of handouts from Monday.
Boris Johnson says he’s spoken to Marcus Rashford about latest food parcel ‘scandal’ as it emerges parents have been told to bake own bread
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MARCUS Rashford has written to Boris Johnson demanding an urgent review of the scandal-hit free school meals system.