All pupils qualifying for free school meals in England will be given supermarket food vouchers to cover the six-week summer holiday, in a £120m government U-turn as Boris Johnson caved in to pressure from campaigners including football star Marcus Rashford.
The announcement from Downing Street came just hours before the prime minister was due to oppose a Labour motion in the House of Commons demanding cash to ensure disadvantaged children have access to food over the summer break.
Manchester United striker Rashford responded in a tweet: "I don’t even know what to say. Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020."
Downing Street said that the scheme - started to ensure that children forced to stay home due to the coronavirus epidemic do not go hungry - will end when schools return in September.
Labour leader Keir Starmer said: "This is another welcome U-turn from Boris Johnson. The thought of 1.3 million children going hungry this summer was unimaginable. Well done to Marcus Rashford and many others who spoke out so powerfully about this issue."
The government climbdown will benefit around 1.3 million children who would otherwise have had their free meal vouchers cut off when school term ends in July.
Paying for meals over summer will cost the government around £120 million. It comes on top of a separate £63 million scheme to help local authorities provide activities and meals to disadvantaged kids during the break.
The government climbdown will benefit around 1.3 million children who would otherwise have had their free meal vouchers cut off when school term ends in July.
Paying for meals over summer will cost the government around £120 million. It comes on top of a separate £63 million scheme to help local authorities provide activities and meals to disadvantaged kids during the break.
Rashford won widespread support with an emotional open letter calling on the government to continue the voucher programme, which is widely backed by teachers and unions.
The 22-year-old spoke powerfully about his own experiences of relying on free school meals as a boy. During the pandemic he has raised large sums for food distribution charity FareShare which is distributing three million meals a week to vulnerable people across the country.
Despite the letter, Mr Johnson tabled an amendment to block Labour's effort to extend the scheme in the Commons today. It is thought that the governemnt amendment will now be dropped.
Referring to Rashford, the PM's spokesman said: “The PM welcomes his contribution to the debate around poverty and respects the fact that he has been using his profile as a leading sportsman to highlight important issues.”
The spokesman stressed that summer food vouchers were a one-off support offered due to the unique circumstances of the coronavirus outbreak.
“Owing to the coronavirus pandemic the prime minister fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer," said the PM's spokesman.
“To reflect this we will be providing a Covid Summer Food Fund. This will provide food vouchers covering the six-week holiday period.
“This is a specific measure to reflect the unique circumstances of the pandemic. The scheme will not continue beyond the summer and those eligible will be those who already qualify for free school meals.”
The government is yet to guarantee that classrooms will reopen for the autumn term in September, but the PM’s spokesman said: “It’s our intention to get all pupils back into school in September.”
It is understood payment will be through a one-off six week voucher given to eligible families at the end of term to use in supermarkets.
