Marcus Rashford hits back at Therese Coffey over minister's 'only' response to free school meal campaign

Manchester United and England star ramps up pressure on Government amid growing calls for U-turn on free school meals decision
Marcus Rashford, 22, has raised over £20m for charity amid the coronavirus pandemic
David Child16 June 2020

Marcus Rashford has hit back at Cabinet minister Therese Coffey, saying her only response to his call to extend the free schools meals was to correct a fact in one of his tweets.

The Manchester United and England star urged the Work and Pensions Secretary to “put rivalries aside” and "make a difference" amid blacklash over her response to his campaign.

Rashford had tweeted a thread with the hashtag #maketheuturn on Tuesday morning as part of his bid to encourage the Government to continue the free school meal voucher scheme through the summer holidays.

The thread began: “When you wake up this morning and run your shower, take a second to think about parents who have had their water turned off during lockdown.”

In response to Rashford's comments, Ms Coffey posted: “Water cannot be disconnected though.”

It is illegal for water companies to disconnect or restrict people's domestic water supply, regardless of whether they are owed money.

Rashford replied directly to Ms Coffey, saying: “I’m concerned this is the only tweet of mine you acknowledged. Please, put rivalries aside for a second, and make a difference #maketheuturn.”

Ms Coffey's input prompted criticism elsewhere, with Labour MP and shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds describing the comment as "snarky".

He said: “Imagine having priorities so warped that this snarky comment is your response to @MarcusRashford’s powerful campaign.

“@theresecoffey do the right thing: apologise and vote for free school meals for children in poverty this summer.”

Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner added: “We often couldn’t afford hot water when I was growing up, I don’t know if you’ve ever experienced poverty and being unable to pay the bills but as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions I would have expected better from you.”

Conservative MP George Freeman meanwhile offered his support for Mr Rashford’s campaign.

He wrote in a Tweet: “This is an unprecedented crisis. The PM @10DowningStreet & Chancellor @RishiSunak have been right to take unprecedented steps to help shield the most vulnerable.

“Free School Meals are a lifeline for many v low income families. Let’s do the right thing: extend FSM thru summer.”

Ruth Davidson, former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, also tweeted: “I totally get that some LA funding has been put in place, but am baffled why WM colleagues picking this hill to die on."

Amid the backlash, Ms Coffey added a further message, saying she welcomed Mr Rashford's "passion" over the free school meals campaign.

"Hi @MarcusRashford, I welcome your passion for supporting children and the most vulnerable in society - a passion we share. We are working to the same aim. I & this Govt will continue to actively help and support families and businesses through this emergency and beyond," she said in a Tweet.

Ms Coffey continued: "@MarcusRashford We supported people renting and ensure they cannot be evicted & intervened with electricity suppliers on bills. We have kept schools open for vulnerable children and those of key workers. We will continue to support the economy and help all of us get through this."

The Standard has contacted Ms Coffey's office for comment.

The spat came after Rashford's thread this morning called on the Government to perform a U-turn over their decision not to provide meal vouchers to vulnerable children over the summer.

He said: "When you turn on your kettle to make a cup of tea or coffee think of those parents who have had to default on electricity bill payments just to make ends meet having lost their jobs during the pandemic #maketheuturn.

"And when you head to the fridge to grab the milk, stop and recognise that parents of at least 200,000 children across the country this morning are waking up to empty shelving #maketheuturn.

"Recognise children around the country are this morning innocently questioning ‘why?’ 9 out of 30 children in any given classroom are today asking ‘why?’ ‘Why does our future not matter?’ #maketheuturn"

The Evening Standard launched its Food For London Now appeal because of the hunger crisis sparked by Covid-19. The Standard has to date raised £6.5m towards its £10m target to help fund the work of the Felix Project of feeding the poor and vulnerable.

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