Marcus Rashford receives an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester

Great honor for Marcus Rashford: The University of Manchester has awarded the England international with an honorary doctorate. Rashford took the opportunity to criticize English social policy.

It was a “bittersweet day,” said Rashford at the award ceremony on Thursday evening. Because the day before, the temporary increase in social assistance by the British government due to the corona pandemic had expired.

“Millions of families in Britain have lost a means of surviving,” said Rashford, who fears that this will result in one in three children living in poverty.

The cuts in welfare are loud BBC affected approximately 5.8 million people in England, Scotland and Wales. The university paid tribute to Rashford’s fight against child poverty. At the age of 23, Rashford is also the youngest recipient of an honorary doctorate in the history of the University of Manchester.

Rashford called for an end to the “child starvation pandemic” and asked politicians to get an idea of ​​the situation locally in poorer regions. “Covid-19 can no longer be used as an excuse,” said Rashford.

Marcus Rashford fights child poverty

The England international, who grew up in humble circumstances himself, has been involved in social projects for children for a long time. Last year he put pressure on the British government around Prime Minister Boris Johnson with a campaign for free school lunches. The Manchester United offensive player had raised a total of £ 20 million (around € 22.3 million at the time) to provide three million meals.

For his work, he was named “Member of the Order of the British Empire” by Queen Elizabeth II last October. The winger is currently unavailable for his club Manchester United due to a shoulder injury.