Actress Emma Thompson -

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The message is very clear: Boris Johnson's government cannot let British children starve to death.

This is in essence what footballer Marcus Rashford is asking in a petition, supported by Emma Thompson.

The actress, ambassador of the Children's Right2Food Campaign, recalled in

Good Morning Britain

that Great Britain is "the sixth largest economy in the world" and that therefore "no child should go hungry in the United Kingdom".

'The fact that there are a growing number (of disadvantaged British children) shows that there are cracks in an already broken food system and that it can and should be fixed as it is an emergency », She added.

Boris Johnson initially refused to expand food aid

Before the summer, in the midst of the first peak of the Covid-19 pandemic, Boris Johnson initially refused to extend food aid provided by schools closed during confinement.

Macus Rashford then launched a campaign to force the government to change its mind and continue to feed families - many of whom have found themselves unemployed due to the economic crisis.

The 22-year-old Manchester United footballer recalled that he himself benefited from the aid, which allowed him to eat properly and become the star footballer he is today.

Boris Johnson then did an about-face and extended food aid.

However, as the end of year holidays approach, the British government does not intend to make more effort.

Marcus Rashford therefore launched this petition supported by Emma Thompson.

He calls for food aid to be provided to families during all school holidays and for it to be available to all families benefiting from Universal Credit (UK social assistance).

"Merry Christmas, kids ..."

Government response: “It is not for schools to regularly provide food aid to students during school holidays.

(…) We made the decision to extend the distribution of free meals during the pandemic when schools were partially closed during confinement.

Things are different today because schools are reopening to all students ”.

Marcus Rashford responded on Twitter.

“Merry Christmas, kids… It's not up to food banks to feed millions of British children either, but it is happening.

250% increase in food poverty and that is not declining… ”, he wrote.

The petition has already been signed by over 207,000 Britons and will therefore need to be debated in Parliament.

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