Marcus Rashford becomes MBE

Footballer Marcus Rashford has been made an MBE for services to vulnerable children at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle.

Speaking after the ceremony, the striker said he would be giving his MBE for services to vulnerable children to his mother and would continue to campaign to "give children the things I didn't have when I was kid".
"If I did have, I would have been much better off and had many more options in my life," he said.
"For me, it is a punishment for them not to be getting things like meals or supplies of books."
He said if everyone could "come together" and make "small changes", things could improve for young people.
"I see a generation that is coming after me as a very special generation," he added.
"They just need a bit of guidance and pointing in the right direction and what I am doing is giving them that."

Full article - Marcus Rashford: Manchester United striker to give MBE to mum

Spot on Chippy.

Children living in grinding poverty is not acceptable in one of the worlds richest nations.

You're right with that of course JR. Still bewilders me though that some parents need their children's school to feed them. There is plenty help out there for low income families. People need to be educated on how to look after their money and on how to prioritise their spending. The government should not be feeding and clothing children. Sounds harsh but if you cannot afford to look after children you should not be having any.

People's circumstances can change and the saying heat or eat is a real thing you obviously haven't suffered real hardship in your life and had to try to make ends meet on the little money you get I have and it was an awful time in my life thankfully long gone..

I see what you are saying Chippy and there are some genuine cases of hardship out there which are tragic. However there are many who just expect the state to pay for everything, rent, food, school clothes, cars you name it. Too many kids are being brought up with the view that you don't need to work because the government will pay for everything. Sometimes I feel in the minority being someone who works and pays for things myself. Nothing wrong in my opinion with the attitude that if you cannot afford it, you can't have it.

Good on Marcus! He's a cool dude

I am in two minds about this, yes there are some people who will take the proverbial, but I also think they are a product of how society has evolved and is today, not how people are by default. Most people want to earn a living and make their own way, the problem is, that is astoundingly difficult in far too large a demographic here in the UK, and of course elsewhere. Over the course of 5 decades of almost exclusively Conservative government (you can't count new labour as labour), the end result is a group of people on one side who think that the government should pay for everything and a group of people on the other who think they are scroungers!

Personally, I think they are both right, bring on UBI, dismantle the Job Seekers allowance and Tax Credits systems that only really serve to punish and demean, destigmatise the idea that doing nothing is a bad thing, allow people the freedom to express themselves however they like, be that scraping by on the UBI which is 'just enough' to exist but allows them the freedom to be an artist, brewer, writer, runner, whatever. or apply themselves in business and at the other extreme become Bezos the Greedy II!

Sorted... vote for me?

Who in there right minds wants to live on £73 a week,
With costs at todays prices.
Its grinding poverty for someone without family/friend support.

Those with 60inch plasma TVs may have actually bought them when working.
Are they expected to sell them and the shirts off there backs before they qualify as "poor"

I was thinking more like the £230 a week suggested by Ms. Winckler. Just enough to cover very basic living costs.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-57142970
Certainly not enough to go wild or satisfy the demands of the modern lifestyle, if you want a new car, games console, holidays, smart clothes, iPhone whatever, then go and earn on top of UBI. Or don't.

I hope this is clearer.

Re-reading that article I see the UBI is something the right wing Adam Smith Institute supports, although at a much lower level. I am, so confused by politics these days, no one knows who they are any more.

Absolutely agree re. personal property and the answer from some folk is ... yeah! Heheh!!

As a side note, I live quite a flighty life, I work hard, but it is sporadic and I do sell personal possessions to get by sometimes rather than try and claim benefits. It works for me. My choice.

I can only applaud his integrity and concern for his fellow beings.

I personally believe the major problem this Country is facing is over population. There will always be people that lack the drive to get themselves out of the hole they find themselves, just as there is those that start out in comfortable circumstances but fall by the wayside. Not everyone can become millionaires.
As for looking after your money, society is now based on inducements to persuade you to part with it. Who buys a car outright now, you need a clever phone, pay for this package or that one,it goes on and on . If I cannot afford it I do not buy it (mortgage aside) - it does help being tight sometimes.

At least he's using his high profile to do some good - unlike the vast majority of footballers, whose only goal in life seems to be to buy themselves ugly houses, ugly women and ugly cars.

I think things have changed in the last few decades, us oldies had it good, buying property was an achievable goal, getting a sensible job where you were treated at least moderately well and paid a "fair days wage for a fair days work" were all things I certainly took for granted, they simply don't exist as options for a massive proportion of the younger generations today. House prices are ridiculous, working conditions in many places are borderline slavery with zero-hour contracts, no sick leave or annual leave, etc. not to mention the fact that education used to be free and now the typical debt for undergrad and postgrad degrees is upwards of £80K and graduate salaried jobs to accommodate all the graduates simply don't exist. I feel for them and think they have a point. There are at least two generations who have been totally rinsed and left out to dry. I can see how easy it would be for a much greater percentage than would otherwise be typical to simply think that 'there's no point'. It's hard to see this if you don't talk to young people, but if you do, it's there.

Related, this is disgusting:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-59242195
I bet a private company provides the, probably sub-standard and nutritionally void, school meals and make eye watering profits... I think it is this kind of thing that is wrong with this country, not over population.

I agree with the above.
But dont know what to say,Just glad that others can see it.

thesteve said:

However there are many who just expect the state to pay for everything, rent, food, school clothes, cars you name it. Too many kids are being brought up with the view that you don't need to work because the government will pay for everything.

Click to expand...

I think most of us will know at least one person who hasn't worked a day more than they need to keep the benefits coming in but i think there are a lot less of them than the press and haters would have us believe.

I may be living in cloud coocoo land but I honestly think most people would like a job and to get off benefits.

No child should go hungry or be frozen,Same applies to OAPs
A law abiding citizen should be protected and granted dignity

Its why i picked up a gun to defend the nation as did my father and my grandfather before him
(unlike them thank god i never had to use it.)

johncrobinson said:

Who in there right minds wants to live on £73 a week,
With costs at todays prices.
Its grinding poverty for someone without family/friend support.

Those with 60inch plasma TVs may have actually bought them when working.
Are they expected to sell them and the shirts off there backs before they qualify as "poor"

Click to expand...

Ive got near neighbours who have never worked. They have had children and they have never worked also - they are just not interested and just see a gravy train to pay benefits - its a way of life. Oh, by the way, they all have mental health issues, naturally.

thesteve said:

I see what you are saying Chippy and there are some genuine cases of hardship out there which are tragic. However there are many who just expect the state to pay for everything, rent, food, school clothes, cars you name it. Too many kids are being brought up with the view that you don't need to work because the government will pay for everything. Sometimes I feel in the minority being someone who works and pays for things myself. Nothing wrong in my opinion with the attitude that if you cannot afford it, you can't have it.

Click to expand...

It seems like your less interested in the genuine cases and are gunning for people you think are cheating the system. The system isn't fair and it's likely that you are one of the lucky ones who won a social or genetic lottery. It may not feel like it but if you have any kind of stability in your life you should be thankful, maybe it's not all of your own making, you were probably just born in a better position.

thesteve said:

You're right with that of course JR. Still bewilders me though that some parents need their children's school to feed them. There is plenty help out there for low income families. People need to be educated on how to look after their money and on how to prioritise their spending. The government should not be feeding and clothing children. Sounds harsh but if you cannot afford to look after children you should not be having any.

Click to expand...

What a nasty take on life you have,

My parents were (and sill are) inteligent enough and quite capable of budgeting, It didnt stop them being unemployed in the 80s and I have no shame of being on free school dinners for a year or two.

Irishwizard said:

Ive got near neighbours who have never worked. They have had children and they have never worked also - they are just not interested and just see a gravy train to pay benefits - its a way of life. Oh, by the way, they all have mental health issues, naturally.

Click to expand...

Doesn't sound like a gravy train to me and probably a way of live very few of us would choose. Sounds like they need some support to break the cycle. You sound like a nice guy, maybe you could give them a loan!

Irishwizard said:

Ive got near neighbours who have never worked. They have had children and they have never worked also - they are just not interested and just see a gravy train to pay benefits - its a way of life. Oh, by the way, they all have mental health issues, naturally.

Click to expand...

yes there are people that play the system, and i know in rhe republic the benefits almost encouraged it over the last 20 years.

But think about it, for the vast majority of people having a job, a purpose, some structure and pride in life far outways free money for doing nothing. There are exceptions of course. so the key is to make it a safety net, providing enough covering the essentials to help thise in need to get though a troubling period and on a more permanent basis for those with long term issues. It’s a pittance in total spend.

Our government wants a few Dole spongers, look how it divides us, takes the heat off the toffs who are really milking this country. Give someone on benefits £100, £100 goes back into the UK economy, pees off those working but that's the point. Give 37 billion to Tory track and tracers, money ends up off shore, all goes very quiet.