Manchester United footballer, Marcus Rashford has blasted a UK politician who tweeted that it’s a parent’s job to feed their families.
The exchange on Twitter occured after a North Yorkshire MP called Kevin Hollinrake tweeted about the ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ scheme’s success.
The politician wrote: “Extraordinary success of #EatOutToHelpOut – simultaneously helped boost the economy, encouraged staycations and got us all used to venturing out once again.”
After the tweet, a twitter user replied: “Undoubtedly a success Kevin and I’m sure warmly welcomed by the hospitality industry. Credit where it’s due.
“Whilst we’re discussing food, why does it take footballer @MarcusRashford to make a stand for the hungry children in our society? Is that not the Governments job?”
Mr Hollinrake then tweeted back, writing: “Where they can, it’s a parents job to feed their children.”
Almost two days later, Rashford saw the tweet and then responded.
Rashford, who suffered hunger as a child before Manchester United signed him, waded into the discussion.
The Manchester United player pointed out all parents “felt the responsibility to feed their children” as he urged the politician to talk to families before tweeting.
The footballer, who has been campaigning to end child food poverty, said: : “I would urge you to talk to families before tweeting. To this day I haven’t met one parent who hasn’t wanted or felt the responsibility to feed their children…
“Put to the side that this comment came from an MP. It’s comments like this that prevent people from speaking their truth and asking for help.
“We need to start uplifting each other. I would have had the same response to anyone tweeting this…”
Rashford, who earns £200,000 weekly at his club, has already helped to raise £20million to fund 3.9million meals for vulnerable children.
He now wants to expand a program that gives free school meals to every youngster from a Universal Credit household, helping an extra 1.5million children.
