Salford & Eccles MP Rebecca Long-Bailey spoke out today in support of giving children free school meals over the summer.
The Shadow Education Secretary spoke to BBC Breakfast following footballer Marcus Rashford’s letter calling for the school meal voucher scheme to be extended over the summer to help struggling families.
The government had repeatedly turned down the request but has decided to allow them to go ahead over the summer
Mrs Long-Bailey said: “As Marcus said in his beautiful letter, it’s not about politics, this is about humanity.
“There will be many conservative MPs today watching this and having read Marcus’s letter who will be agonising about whether they support the government or not in this because they will want what’s best for children.
Today we can come together to stop 1.3 million children going hungry this summer. #HolidaysWithoutHunger pic.twitter.com/v7lTQv5237
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) June 16, 2020
“So I’m asking all politicians, whichever party they’re in, this is not about party politics, this is about making sure that children don’t go hungry over the summer holidays and whether tory, labour, liberal, SNP, Green, you name it, we all want the best for our children.
“So why can’t we come together in this crisis and make sure that those children have what they need?
An Open Letter to all MPs in Parliament…#maketheUturn
Please retweet and tag your local MPs pic.twitter.com/GXuUxFJdcv
— Marcus Rashford (@MarcusRashford) June 14, 2020
1/2 Welcome Govt rowing back from full school reopening plans before summer amid concerns. But to avoid the increasing crisis in education, pupil attainment and wellbeing, it’s critical to develop a national plan for education, with experts,Trade Unions,school leaders & many more pic.twitter.com/1ULe25g656
— Rebecca Long-Bailey (@RLong_Bailey) June 9, 2020
Mrs Long-Bailey previously spoke about free school meals in Parliament.
Barbara Keely, MP for Worsley & Eccles South, has also come out in support of the letter.
Of coursehttps://t.co/SypCzdvCn8 https://t.co/In32jw0De4
— Barbara Keeley (@KeeleyMP) June 15, 2020
Salford’s NHS CCG has announced schemes to help those who have been affected by the pandemic.
Heard about Healthy Start? You can get free weekly vouchers to spend on milk, fresh and frozen fruit and vegetables, infant formula milk and free vitamins.
Check if you qualify https://t.co/qbfaddTgfm pic.twitter.com/9ULsmippFq
— NHS Salford CCG (@SalfordCCG) March 31, 2020
Facebook groups such as The Spirit of Salford and the S.E.A.R.C.H. Salford Community Committee have been used to mobilise information during the pandemic and subsequent lockdown.
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