‘Isn’t Boris Johnson’s conscience pricked?’: Piers Morgan backs Marcus Rashford’s school meals campaign

Good Morning Britain presenters attack government’s ‘heartless’ response to footballer’s plea to support vulnerable families

Piers Morgan has asked Boris Johnson if he doesn’t “feel his conscience pricked” by Marcus Rashford’s letter in which the footballer called on the government to provide free school meals for vulnerable children over the summer.

The Good Morning Britain presenter and co-host Susanna Reid threw their support behind the Manchester United striker’s passionate plea on Tuesday’s programme after ministers rejected the appeal to extend support to families at risk of poverty during the coronavirus pandemic.

Morgan encouraged viewers to share Rashford’s open letter, posted on Twitter, which urges MPs to set political affiliations aside and “agree that no child should be going to bed hungry”.

The presenter said: “Can the prime minister Boris Johnson not read that line and feel his conscience pricked? And feel these are utter exceptional times.

“As you keep telling us prime minister, unprecedented circumstances require unprecedented action by the government. You said you’d do whatever it takes.”

Reid and Morgan also condemned cabinet minister Therese Coffey’s “tone deaf” six-word response to Rashford’s letter.

After the footballer suggested poor parents could be left without water, the work and pensions secretary commented on Twitter: “Water cannot be disconnected though.”

Morgan attacked her response as “utterly heartless” and “devoid of empathy”.

Following widespread criticism, including from Rashford himself, the minister later sent two further tweets insisting she shared his “passion for supporting children and the most vulnerable in society”.

The government is facing growing pressure to perform a U-turn on its decision not to extend the free school meals voucher system for low-income families over the summer holidays.

The scheme was introduced as schools closed during lockdown in March to ensure vulnerable children did not go hungry. It continued through the Easter holidays, but ministers have insisted it will end when the summer term finishes next month.