Tories urged to address root cause of child hunger

As well as paying for the Covid Winter Grant Scheme, the cash boost will allow the Holiday Activities and Food programme to be extended and cover the Easter, summer and Christmas breaks in 2021.

But Leeds Council’s executive member for learning, skills, employment and equality, Jonathan Pryor, said the Government need to do more.

“I thank the Prime Minister for finally listening to the outcries from families, councils, charities, businesses, schools and of course Marcus Rashford. This serves to demonstrate how little of a plan the Government has to get us through the Covid crisis,” the Labour councillor said.

“It additionally shows how a decade of cuts from the Conservatives have left the country in such a state that we need emergency measures such as this to ensure children are fed. We’re calling on Government to address why so many children in our country, one of the wealthiest countries in the world, are living in poverty.”

As part of the package, Healthy Start payments, helping expectant low-income mothers, or those with young children in receipt of benefits to buy fruit and vegetables, are set to rise from April.