Andrew Gwynne, MP for Denton and Reddish, is encouraging constituents to sign Marcus Rashford’s petition to end child food poverty.
Rashford, who plays football for Manchester United and is from Wythenshawe, was previously successful in campaigning for the Government to extend free school meals over the summer holiday this year.
His petition, which has over 200,000 signatures, calls on the Government to implement 3 recommendations from the National Food Strategy, by allocating money to:
- Expand free school meals to all under-16s where a parent or guardian is in receipt of Universal Credit or equivalent benefit
- Provide meals & activities during all holidays
- Increase the value of Healthy Start vouchers to at least £4.25 per week, and expand the scheme.
Andrew Gwynne said:
“Marcus Rashford’s campaigning on the issue of food poverty has been inspirational and I strongly support his calls to the Government to implement these recommendations.
“This would cost far less than the “Eat Out To Help Out” scheme – if the Government is happy to pay for people’s Nandos, they should be willing to provide the funding needed to feed children facing food poverty.
“I’d encourage everyone across the Denton and Reddish constituency to get behind this campaign and sign the petition.”