Marcus Rashford has slammed Boris Johnson for his decision to reject his call to extend free school meals over the half term and Christmas holidays.
The Manchester United striker -who succeeded in forcing the Government to make a U-turn on the withdrawal of holiday food vouchers in June - launched a petition urging them to tackle child hunger with the extension.
But No 10 responded on Thursday with a statement which read: "We took that decision to extend free school meals during the pandemic when schools were partially closed during lockdown. We're in a different position now with schools back open to all pupils.
"It's not for schools to regularly provide food to pupils during the school holidays. We believe the best way to support families outside of term time is through Universal Credit rather than Government subsidising meals."
Rashford wasted no time in responding on social media, taking to his Twitter account with a scathing attack which read: "Merry Christmas kids...
"It’s also not for food banks to feed millions of British children but here we are. 250% increase in food poverty and rising...
"This is not going away anytime soon and neither am I..."
The 22-year-old's words suggest that he will not give up in his fight, and he and Boris Johnson could be set for another collision course in the near future.
Rashford was recently awarded an MBE for his role in helping deprived children, and it is clearly an issue he feels deeply passionately about.
Before No 10's announcement, he had said: "For too long this conversation has been delayed. Child food poverty in the UK is not a result of Covid-19. We must act with urgency to stabilise the households of our vulnerable children.
"In 2020, no child in the UK should be going to bed hungry, nor should they be sat in classrooms concerned about how their younger siblings are going to eat that day, or how they are going to access food come the holidays."
