British Prime Minister hints on U turn over free school meals after national backlash
British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, who has come under extreme national pressure from citizens in the UK, today made his first hints to a U turn on his and his governments decision.
The Prime Minister twice said the poorest children will not go hungry this Christmas “as a result of any government inattention”.
That appears to confirm reports he could provide more money to councils, on top of a £63m pot pledged in June, to extend free school meals over the holidays.
But any U-turn would be too late for half term – which has already started.
Mr Johnson spoke today on a visit to a Berkshire hospital as he faced a revolt from generous restaurants, councils and even some of the 322 Tories who voted down help last week.
Surrounded by fresh food at the hospital, Mr Johnson said: “Let’s be absolutely clear.
“We’re going to make sure we have no children, no kids, no pupils in our country who go hungry this winter, certainly not as a result of any government inattention.
“We’re going to be focusing on that, as we have done very very hard over the last few months.
“We’ve given huge sums to local councils to help them out, but also specific sums for helping with meals during what was a very disrupted period.”
The UK premier also said: “We certainly recognise there is an issue. We have been dealing with it continuously throughout the period of the pandemic and we’re going to continue to deal with it.
“And just to repeat the point, we will make sure we will do everything in our power to make sure no child goes hungry this winter during the holidays. That’s obviously something we care about very much.”
The comments follow the huge backlash across the nation against the Tory government and MP’s of the party, which has seen them banned from establishments by owners and have empty plates dumped on their door steps.
Communities have pulled together in the country by ignoring the governments stance and supplied meals anyway, via community centres, other establishments and even football clubs.
At the same the government have been embarrassed by footballer Marcus Rashford’s campaign.
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