London: Britain’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson will provide a summer food fund for struggling families in England, bowing to pressure from England and Manchester United footballer Marcus Rashford and his campaign to prevent children from going hungry during the coronavirus pandemic.

British ministers originally said school food vouchers would not be available over the long summer holiday, prompting the 22-year-old forward to take up the cause and reveal how he had relied on such support as a boy.

Before a debate in parliament, and as some MPs from the ruling Conservative Party called for a change, Johnson’s spokesman said the government would be providing a Covid summer food fund costing around 120 million pounds ($150 million).

About 1.3 million children will now qualify for the new vouchers.

“Owing to the coronavirus pandemic, the Prime Minister fully understands that children and parents face an entirely unprecedented situation over the summer. To reflect this we will be providing a Covid summer food fund,” a spokesman for Johnson said.

Asked whether Rashford had influenced the decision, the spokesman said the Prime Minister “welcomes his contribution to the debate around poverty. He respects the fact he (Rashford) has been using his profile as a leading sportsman”.

Rashford used a column in The Times on Tuesday to argue that while he may not have the education of a lawmaker in parliament, he did have a social education. He has helped to raise around 20 million pounds with charity Fareshare UK to supply meals to struggling families.

“I don’t even know what to say,” the Manchester United star said on Twitter of the change in policy. “Just look at what we can do when we come together, THIS is England in 2020.”

The move by the government was met with widespread praise for Rashford from fellow sports stars, politicians and the mayor of London.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph: “This is another welcome U-turn from Boris Johnson. The thought of 1.3 million children going hungry this summer was unimaginable. Well done to Marcus Rashford and many others who spoke out so powerfully about this issue.”

“Well played, Marcus. Well played,” said former England captain and pundit Gary Lineker on Twitter.