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Boris Johnson failed to reply to 'personal' letter sent by Marcus Rashford asking for help feeding hungry children

In the letter, Rashford thanked the PM for putting allegiance aside but said that vouchers were a short-term solution.

The England footballer and campaigner has been setting up a task force to work with food brands to reduce child food poverty
Image: Marcus Rashford had called for 'teamwork' with the PM - but did not receive a response
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Boris Johnson failed to reply to a "personal" letter sent by Marcus Rashford in which the footballer asked the prime minister to join a taskforce he created to help tackle child food poverty.

Sky News understands that the letter was sent privately in September alongside a public letter that thanked the government for the voucher scheme over the summer, which helped families struggling to put food on the table.

The private letter to Number 10 said the vouchers - which Rashford campaigned for - were only a short term solution, and went on to call for "teamwork" to help feed hungry children in the long term.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson leaves 10 Downing Street to attend the weekly Prime Minister's Questions on June 17, 2020 in London, England. Yesterday Boris Johnson announced the government would continue to provide free school meal vouchers to eligible children throughout the summer holidays, following a petition by Manchester United footballer, Marcus Rashford.
Image: Boris Johnson apparently failed to respond to Rashford's 'personal' letter

Labour now says it will force another vote in the Commons if the government does not change its policy before the Christmas recess and extend free school meals during the school holidays until Easter 2021.

A motion calling for the extension of free school meals was rejected by Tory MPs last Wednesday.

Sky's chief political correspondent Jon Craig revealed on Saturday that Rashford had written a "personal" letter to the prime minister at the start of September but the footballer did not receive a response.

The Manchester United and England star had thanked Mr Johnson "for putting allegiance aside and taking swift action in the summer - crediting him for positively impacting millions of children's lives across the UK", Craig said.

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"He said he was grateful and he said the voucher scheme was only a short term solution, and that we have to work towards implementing a long term solution," Craig added.

"He shared some stories of the families he had met called for teamwork asked if he would join the his taskforce, it's that letter to which he has not received a reply, according to the Rashford team."

Why ordinary people inspired by Marcus Rashford are offering free meals for children
Why ordinary people inspired by Marcus Rashford are offering free meals for children

In response, a government spokesperson said they were committed to making sure the most vulnerable were protected, and added that free school meals will continue during term-time.

On Saturday, Rashford tweeted to condemn the "unacceptable abuse" aimed at MPs and their families.

"Everyone knows how important my mum is to me and I cannot and do not condone personal attacks on females in particular," the footballer said.

He added that making sure children getting the help they need is the "most important" thing.

It comes after a Conservative MP who sparked anger after commenting on local businesses donating free meals to children over the half-term holiday said she regretted causing offence.

After dozens of organisations offered to help, Selaine Saxby, who is Tory MP for North Devon, posted a comment on Facebook which seemed to question the gesture.

She wrote: "I am delighted our local businesses have bounced back so much after lockdown they are able to give away food for free, and very much hope they will not be seeking any further government support."

Her post has since been deleted.

In a statement, Ms Saxby said her comments were "out of context" adding: "I of course deeply regret any offence which may have been caused."

Another Tory MP, Ben Bradley, also said his words were taken "out of context" after a comment he made on social media seemed to imply that money from free school meal vouchers ended up in "crack dens and brothels".

The MP for Mansfield replied to a tweet in which another user described the free school meals programme as "£20 cash direct to a crack den and a brothel", writing: "That's what FSM vouchers in the summer effectively did..."

Mr Bradley later claimed he was trying to say that giving children who live in "chaotic" situations an "unrestricted voucher to spend on whatever isn't helpful".

Labour MPs pointed out the vouchers in summer could only be used to buy food, and asked for evidence of abuse of the voucher system.