MARCUS Rashford’s petition ordering an to end child poverty through free school meals has hit over 1.1 million signatures – and is still going.

The footballer’s parliamentary petition lobbies for food to be provided during all holidays and for free school meals to be provided to all families and households on Universal Credit.

What is the free school meals petition?

Rashford forced the government into a U-turn in June over the provision of free school meals for children during the summer holidays.

The footballer’s parliamentary petition lobbies for food to be provided during all holidays and for free school meals to be provided to all families and households on Universal Credit.

It followed a relentless social media campaign, which earned him an MBE last year.

He forced the government’s hand on child hunger once again in the autumn on expanding the free school meals programme through subsequent school holidays.

The package included a £170m Covid winter grant scheme to support vulnerable families in England and an extension of the holiday activities and food programme to the Easter, summer and Christmas breaks this year.

The government guidelines urge schools to work with their catering teams or food provider to provide parcels to eligible pupils who are learning from home.

How can I sign the petition?

The petition, created by Rashford in October 2020, beckons the UK Government to provide during meals during all holidays for schoolchildren, and for free school meals to be extended to households who are on universal credit.

"If you can do one thing for me tonight, sign the petition," Rashford wrote on Twitter.

"It’s time we put party politics aside and worked together to find a long-term sustainable solution to child food poverty in the UK.

"Implement the three asks. I appreciate you all."

The statement on the petition states: "Government should support vulnerable children & #endchildfoodpoverty by implementing 3 recommendations from the National Food Strategy to expand access to Free School Meals, provide meals & activities during holidays to stop holiday hunger & increase the value of and expand the Healthy Start scheme."

How many people have signed it?

The petition passed 250,000 signatures two days after it was launched in Oocober 2020. A further nine days later, it hit 800,000 signatures.

As of January 13, 2020, the petition has 1,108,046.

All petitions must gain over 100,000 signatures to be considered for debate in the House of Commons. The deadline for the petition is on April 14, 2021.

Source: Read Full Article