‘DO YOUR BIT!’
Piers Morgan blasts Matt Hancock over Marcus Rashford’s fight for free school meals
PIERS Morgan has blasted Matt Hancock as a “fiasco” over Manchester United ace Marcus Rashford’s fight for free school meals.
The GMB host told the Health Secretary to “do your bit” after the England striker, 22, sent an impassioned plea to 650 MPs to feed more than a million of the UK's poorest kids through the summer holiday.
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Piers Morgan lauded the Manchester United striker’s campaign and blasted the Tory MP after he told Premier League stars to “take a pay cut” to help the economy during the coronavirus crisis.
Piers fumed this morning: “Who the hell did Matt Hancock think he was, lecturing footballers?
“He’s not prepared to follow that himself.
“He’s not prepared to lose a penny of his own salary – he’s been a total fiasco in this pandemic as Health Secretary.
“We’ve had the worst record in the world for death rates.
Why don’t you do your bit, Matt Hancock, Boris Johnson now and give Marcus Rashford a win on this very worthy campaign.
Piers Morgan
“We’ve had the worst approval rating from our people here, for how our government’s handled it.”
He added: “There he is lecturing footballers about what they should be doing to do their bit.
“Well they just did, so why don’t you do your bit, Matt Hancock and Boris Johnson now; and give Marcus Rashford a win on this very, very worthy campaign and let these hungry kids get some food for the rest of the summer.
“That’s doing your bit and you know what, you can also help a bit, take a pay cut.
“Like your colleagues in New Zealand that have actually been fantastically successful.”
RASHFORD'S PLEA
Piers’ rant comes after England star Rashford penned an open letter this week asking the Government to reverse its decision to cease the free school meals scheme - for which nearly 1.3 million children are eligible - outside of school term time.
He wrote: “The Government has taken a ‘whatever it takes’ approach to the economy - I’m asking you today to extend that same thinking to protecting all vulnerable children across England.
“I encourage you to hear their pleas and find your humanity. Please reconsider your decision to cancel the food voucher scheme over the summer holiday and guarantee the extension.
“This is England in 2020, and this is an issue that needs urgent assistance.
“Please, while the eyes of the nation are on you, make the U-turn and make protecting the lives of some of our most vulnerable a top priority.”
'FOOD BANKS WERE NOT ALIEN TO US'
Rashford, who has raised £20 million to boost food distribution with the charity FareShare, has said he used food banks and received free meals during his childhood in Manchester.
The forward wrote: “We relied on breakfast clubs, free school meals, and the kind actions of neighbours and coaches.
“Food banks and soup kitchens were not alien to us - I recall very clearly our visits to Northern Moor to collect our Christmas dinners every year.
“As a black man from a low-income family in Manchester, I could have been just another statistic.
Make the U-turn and make protecting the lives of some of our most vulnerable a top priority.
Marcus Rashford
“Instead, due to the selfless actions of my mum, my family, my neighbours, and my coaches, the only stats I’m associated with are goals, appearances and caps."
Rashford again urged the government to “#maketheuturn” this morning as he asked MPs to think about struggling families who can’t pay bills or buy food.
He tweeted: “Recognise children around the country are this morning innocently questioning ‘why?’
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"Nine out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking ‘why?’
“‘Why does our future not matter?’”
A Department of Education spokesman has said the national voucher scheme "will not run during the summer holidays".
However, Boris Johnson's official spokesman said the Prime Minister will respond to Rashford's letter "as soon as he can".
Marcus Rashford speaks about his childhood after penning letter asking government to reverse decision to halt free school meals initiative at the end of this term
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