Marcus Rashford: Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown backs Manchester United star’s call to end child food poverty

Yesterday Downing Street indicated that ministers would not provide free school meals to children in England during the Christmas break.

Speaking from his home in Fife this morning, Gordon Brown said it would be “tragic” to allow children to go hungry at Christmas.

“Scotland and Wales are already doing this,” he said, “and I think people will ask why children in some of the most poverty-stricken areas of the country are going to be denied it during the school holidays.

“I don't accept the government's reply, and I think, Boris Johnson should look at this personally, instead of sending out a standard reply.

“I think on reflection he would decide that it is a small price to pay to keep children out of poverty during these midterm and Christmas holidays.

“It would be tragic if, during the Christmas break, children were going without food, and this would be something that I don't think any, any parent would want.”

Yesterday a petition started by Mr Rashford, which calls for free school meals to be during all holidays, and expanded to all households on Universal Credit, reached 100,000 signatures in just 10 hours, and will be considered for debate by MPs.

The England striker, who has just been made an MBE for his services to vulnerable children, said on Twitter: “The bigger the number the louder the voice…We’re not stopping here – please sign and keep sharing.”

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