HARLOW MP Robert Halfon has backed Manchester United and England footballer, Marcus Rashford’s call for more free school meals and vouchers.

Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Mr Halfon said: “All of us should listen to Marcus Rashford. He has lived through food hunger.

“1.4 million children face food poverty. We need to deal with this.

“I am working with MPs from across all the parties.

“I would like to see a national strategy, The education secretary’s letter is a lot of clothes pegs without a washing line.

“The most important thing is to extend free school meals over the school holidays.”

Mr Halfon was asked his opinion on letter from education secretary, Gavin Williamson.

He said: “The letter listed all the food programmes and I welcome that but it is not enough. We need to think imaginatively, Again, we need a national strategy.

“Get the date to real child hunger. We should look at Sugar Tax. Use that money to pay for free school meal vouchers.

“I would like to see a lot more businesses involved.

The government needs to make treat this very seriously

“I hope when we have our backbench debate it will be supported.

“Marcus Rashford is putting this into the national arena”.