Boris Johnson is said to be planning a partial U-turn over kids’ free school meals after he faced an outpouring of public fury.
The Prime Minister’s allies told the Times he could increase funding for the poorest families over Christmas to ensure children do not go hungry during the holidays.
But any U-turn would likely be too late for half term - which has already started.
And it’s not yet known if any new scheme will be as generous as the £15-a-week supermarket vouchers offered over summer.
It comes after the cruel PM faced a revolt from generous restaurants, councils and even some of the 322 Tories who voted down help last week.
Conservative MPs have started to have second thoughts after they were bombarded with complaints for refusing to back Marcus Rashford’s campaign.
One Tory MP, Sir David Amess, had dozens of empty plates left outside his office over the weekend in protest against his stance.
Ex-minister Caroline Nokes told the BBC’s Westminster Hour there should be an announcement within hours, saying: “I don’t think there’s any doubt about them having to take another look at it. I would argue that they need to find a better mechanism that vouchers.”
Sir Bernard Jenkin warned the government had "misunderstood the mood of the country" while ex-minister Tobias Ellwood said he regretted voting with the PM.
Labour are now planning to bring a second vote on the issue before Christmas. Ex-children’s minister Tim Loughton - who abstained last week - said he would vote against the government if a vote is held again.
Despite just five Tory MPs backing Rashford last week, some told The Telegraph “more than 100” are now angry at the government’s response.
“The WhatsApp groups that I’m on are just going crazy with anger at the machinery, and that we’ve managed to score yet another own goal,” said one.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock today refused to confirm or deny plans to increase funding for the poorest families. But he appeared to hint at more help for councils.
Mr Hancock repeatedly pointed to a £63m fund announced in June for councils to help those struggling to buy food, which the Times reports could be extended.
"There's constantly, constantly work ongoing with councils," Mr Hancock said.
Fellow minister Brandon Lewis added yesterday: “What we’re looking to do is ensure we deal with child poverty at the core, put the structure in place so that even in school holidays children can get access to the food that they need.”
Mr Hancock said councils “often know better” about how to target money at the neediest and “I also want no child to go hungry, of course”.
Yet the £63m council fund is not the same as the free school meals fund, large parts of it have already been spent, critics are likely to say it is not enough.
And the Health Secretary refused to budge on pleas to extend £15 free school meal vouchers over half-term this week.
But he brazenly praised the England star, along with firms stepping in to give kids food - which he said were “good hearted and positive parts of our community”.
The shameless Cabinet minister said firms and councils being forced to fill the gaps left by government were “absolutely wonderful” and “brilliant”.
“I agree very strongly with the purpose of the campaign led by Marcus Rashford,” he told Sky News.
“The purpose is that no child should go hungry and that’s right… The question is how we then fulfil that.”
With local councils and businesses pledging free food for children in need this week, support for Rashford's petition has passed 800,000 signatures.
Many town halls - including a number of Tory-run councils - are providing food vouchers and parcels to those in need.
Conservative-led Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council said it would be providing food parcels for families from Monday, tweeting: "No child should go hungry."
Announcing almost 3,300 youngsters would receive £15 vouchers from their schools to cover the cost of meals during the holiday, Kensington and Chelsea council - which is also Tory-run - said: "No kid should go hungry".
Other Conservative-controlled councils getting on board include Hillingdon - which is in Boris Johnson's constituency - Medway and Wandsworth, with the latter approving a £10,000 food voucher scheme.
Wandsworth council's cabinet member for finance Rory O'Broin said they had "happily set aside the funding that's needed to ensure children from some of our poorest families don't go hungry this half term".
Medway Council said it was using money from the Government's emergency assistance grant - for all residents struggling financially to get food and other essential items - specifically to provide free school meals to families during October half-term.
The Labour leader of Birmingham City Council pledged to provide 61,000 eligible youngsters with meals in a scheme which will cost the local authority between £800,000 and £1 million, and the mayor of Liverpool said he was "not prepared to stand by and watch", as he announced £300,000 of funding.
Coventry City Council said it was supporting the Coventry Food Network - made up of foodbanks, "grub hubs" and social supermarkets - to coordinate efforts to feed disadvantaged children in the city.
The council said it was providing staff, transport and distribution points and committed to replace all food the network uses for free school meals.
Labour leader George Duggins said he was "angry with the Government's refusal to continue to provide free school meals to those young children who need it the most".
Northamptonshire County Council (NCC) said it would provide free school meal vouchers to eligible children "using the money received from central government and provided to NCC for Covid-19-related costs, which includes support for children".
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