Gavin Williamson praises ‘charming’ Marcus Rashford but actually was on Zoom call to Maro Itoje
Gavin Williamson in race row after he mistakes Maro Itoje for Marcus Rashford – after chatting to rugby star on Zoom call
Gavin Williamson mistakenly mixed up meeting Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford with Saracens and England rugby star Maro Itoje He praised ‘charming’ Rashford before his spokesperson clarified it was ItojeThe Education Secretary made the revelation in Evening Standard interview
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Marcus Rashford has laughed off a gaffe by Gavin Williamson, who told a newspaper he had met the England footballer on Zoom when he had in fact met with England rugby star Maro Itoje.
The Education Secretary, 45, who is understood to be facing the prospect of being replaced in the Prime Minister’s next Cabinet reshuffle, revealed the embarrassing error while speaking with the Evening Standard.
While discussing some of his most ardent critics with Susannah Butter, Mr Williamson claimed to have met ‘engaged, compassionate and charming’ England and Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford via Zoom.
But later in the interview, a spokesperson for Mr Williamson explained that he had actually met Saracens rugby star Maro Itoje, rather than Rashford, MailOnline understands.
He told the Standard: ‘We met over Zoom and he seemed incredibly engaged, compassionate and charming but then he had to shoot off.
‘I didn’t want to be the one that was holding him back from his training.’
A spokesperson for Rashford said the footballer had not had direct communication with the Education Secretary.
While discussing some of his most ardent critics with Susannah Butter, Gavin Williamson claimed to have met ‘engaged, compassionate and charming’ Marcus Rashford via Zoom
England and Manchester United star Marcus Rashford (above) laughed off Gavin Williamson’s gaffe, tweeting: ‘Accent could have been a giveaway’
A spokesperson for Mr Williamson explained that he had actually met Saracens rugby star Maro Itoje (pictured) who had campaigned for an end to the ‘Digital Divide’
The footballer had been a vocal critic of Mr Williamson’s handling of the free school meals fiasco.
Mr Williamson was interviewed by the Standard’s Susannah Butter, who had checked with his representatives who confirmed the Education Secretary had in fact met Itoje.
Williamson was speaking about how he was ‘scouring the globe’ for laptops to give to children during the pandemic, the Standard reports.
Reacting to the story with a crying laughing emoji, Rashford tweeted: ‘Accent could have been a giveaway’
That discussion was likely centred around the efforts of Saracens and England star Maro Itoje, who had been campaigning to provide every student in the UK with equal access to education.
Titled the Digital Divide, Itoje and partners Bloomberg and Saracens Foundation worked to provide more than 2,000 laptops and tablets to school pupils in desperate need during the pandemic.
Reacting to the story with a crying laughing emoji, Rashford tweeted: ‘Accent could have been a giveaway.’
But Shadow Justice Secretary David Lammy took a harder stance, writing on Twitter: ‘This is appalling. Gavin Williamson what was it about Maro Itoje that made you mistake him for Marcus Rashford?
‘You must be the most ignorant, clueless and incapable Education Secretary in the UK’s history.’
The news comes as Manchester United star Marcus Rashford calls on people to petition their MP to back ending the ‘child hunger pandemic’.
The England footballer said that ‘devastatingly’ child food poverty is getting worse instead of better.
The three recommendations Rashford is supporting are from the national food strategy developed by the Government’s food tsar, Henry Dimbleby.
They include expanding free school meal eligibility, providing long-term funding for the holiday activities and food programme and increasing eligibility, and expanding eligibility for the healthy start scheme which provides vouchers for milk, fruit and vegetables.
The news comes as Manchester United star Marcus Rashford calls on people to petition their MP to back ending the ‘child hunger pandemic’
Rashford, 23, said: ‘We should be focusing efforts on developing a sustainable long-term roadmap out of this child hunger pandemic.
‘I hope that we see the required investment pledged during the Autumn Spending Review. I will be writing to my MP about it, and I would encourage you all to do the same.’
The footballer’s latest efforts follow his successful campaign to persuade the Government to provide free meals to vulnerable youngsters in England during school holidays during the pandemic.
Last month, Gavin Williamson faced huge political pressure after being accused of ruining the credibility of A-levels by ‘baking in’ soaring grade inflation and allowing a growing results gap between private and state schools.
He was said to be ‘wetting himself’ over reports that Boris Johnson is lining up his ‘anti-woke’ Equalities Minister Kemi Badenoch to replace him in the Cabinet.
