After 322 MPs Voted To Let More Than One Million Children Go Hungry, Everyone Should Read Marcus Rashford’s Emotional Words On Food Poverty

Last night, more than 300 Tory MPs voted to let over 1.4million children in the UK go hungry. After Labour introduced a motion to extend the free school meal scheme until Easter 2021, the bid was defeated by 261 votes to 322. In response, food hunger advocate and footballer Marcus Rashford has tweeted a powerful plea to the government that is a must-read.

‘Put side all the noise, the digs, the party politics and let’s focus on reality,’ his statement on Twitter began. ‘A significant number of children are going to bed tonight not only hungry but feeling like they do not matter because of comments that have been made today.’

‘The noise and digs’ Rashford refers to is likely a nod to the debate that came after the vote, when those in support of children not going hungry began trending #ToryScum while Tory MPs offended by the hashtag began to defend their position not to help starving children. They placied blame on parents struggling to feed their children and implied state help for vulnerable people breeds dependence, something Labour MPs like Jess Phillips and Angela Raynor quickly debunked. However, as with every debate on Twitter, tweets from people all over the UK quickly turned nasty as both sides fought their point.

As such, Rashford pleaded with people to focus on what can be done to help children going without food. ‘The asks of the Child Food Poverty Taskforce remain the same. We are endorsing Government-commissioned policy recommendations that were built from the extensive research and data analysis. These policies are vital to stabilising millions of households across the UK,’ he said.

Inviting Number 10 to sit with the taskforce to collaborate on ending child food poverty, he also pointed to the abuse he’s received in being such a strong advocate for eradicating child poverty. ‘I don’t have the education of a politician, many on Twitter have made that clear today, but I have a social education having lived through this and having spent time with the families and children most affected,’ he said.

‘As long as they don’t have a voice, they will have mine. You have my word on that,’ he concluded his tear-jerking powerful statement.

With over 150,000 likes, his words are being shared far and wide as people grapple to show support for children in need after such a devastating outcome in the Commons. Because, his statement is not just an emotional plea, it’s a logical one too. Offering clear and insightful ways to tackle food poverty, he’s not just helping people find their humanity but educating all of us on what needs to be done.

It shouldn’t be Marcus Rashford’s job to convince people to support the most vulnerable children in the UK, but for as long as the government shuns responsibility for one of the most vital things we pay our taxes for, he is proving damn good at it.

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