№10 strikes to force Government U-turn!
The right words can make all the difference in the world.
Right now, we could all do with some clear thought and insight as we struggle to come to terms with, and adapt to, the threat of coronavirus and at a time when thousands of people have been taking to the streets to protest about racial and social injustice.
The right words in this instance are linked to both of the above and highlight a further social failing in our society — Child poverty — which was almost brushed to one side by the UK government earlier this week.
When №10 announced that it was ending its free school meal voucher scheme for low-income families over the summer holiday period, it took a swift response from another №10 to force some extra-time on the issue.
The timely intervention by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford prompted a comeback that should rank alongside his finest on the pitch. The impact could surely not have been greater.
The high-profile striker, who wears the famous №10 shirt for United, followed up a heart-felt open letter to Parliament asking MPs to “find your humanity” and extend the food voucher scheme that supports 1.3 million children that would be entitled to free school meals.
Having acknowledged the footballer’s commendable contribution, the government promptly confirmed its earlier decision to end the scheme.
Undaunted and undeterred Rashford responded on Twitter: “We aren’t beaten yet, stand strong for the 200,000 children who haven’t had a meal to eat today and keep retweeting #maketheUturn.”
Those words resonated with his three million social media followers to such an extent that his open letter to Parliament received 114,000 retweets and more than 300,000 ‘likes’ before the end of the week.
The outpouring of support even prompted a direct call from the prime minister at the other №10, passing on his congratulations and, presumably, ensuring the influential Rashford was onside.
The government’s subsequent U-turn within 24 hours announcing that it was extending its meal voucher scheme with a COVID Summer Food Fund worth £120million is nothing short of remarkable.
It also highlights how the right words expressed in the right way and from the heart can bring about positive change.
While today, Marcus Rashford may enjoy fame and fortune and be in a position to lend his considerable social media presence to such a worthy cause, he’s more than qualified to add his views on this particular subject.
He knows only too well the reality of going without and growing up with everything stacked against him.
“This was never about me… this was never about politics. This was a cry for help from vulnerable parents all over the country and I simply provided a platform for their voices to be heard,” said a modest Rashford, who was one of five children brought up within a single parent family on a low income in Wythenshaw, Manchester.
In his open letter, he states, “Without the kindness and generosity of the community I had around me, there wouldn’t be the Marcus Rashford you see today, a 22 year-old black man lucky enough to make a career playing a game I love.”
“My mum worked full-time, earning minimum wage to make sure we always had a good evening meal on the table. But it wasn’t enough. The system was not built for families like mine to succeed, regardless of how hard my mum worked.”
There’s no doubting Marcus Rashford’s footballing talent. The prolific goal scorer has the skills and temperament to become one of the game’s greats.
However, it was his performance off the field this week that establishes him not only as a great ambassador for his sport, but as a caring young human being with a social conscience who genuinely wants to make a difference.
His considered and eloquent letter, which was the latest initiative in his own personal ongoing campaign to support children in poverty, highlights how the current lockdown has been increasing the hardship endured by thousands of impoverished families.
“Fathers have told me they are struggling with depression, unable to sleep, worried sick about how they are going to support their families having lost their jobs unexpectedly; head teachers who are personally covering the cost of food packages for their vulnerable families after the school debit card has been maxed out; mothers who can’t cover the cost of increased electricity and food bills during the lockdown,” are among the examples given in his letter.
Now, he’s determined, as he puts it, to use his voice to get the message through to the people higher up to take the action that will make a difference.
“I would be doing myself, my family and my community an injustice if I didn’t stand here today with my voice and my platform and ask you for help,” he said.
Having fought his way through a system that was stacked so heavily against him and for whom, by his own admission, it could have gone either way, Marcus Rashford’s victory this week is all the more impressive and inspiring.
He’s a role model his sport and his country can be proud of.
And, should the prime minister struggle to achieve his goals on child poverty in the future, he now knows he can call up a №10 who will secure the right result and get the job done.
