EVERY living Prime Minister backs Mail Force campaign to help lockdown children 

All five living former prime ministers last night joined Boris Johnson in backing Mail Force’s Computers for Kids campaign.

In an unprecedented show of support, Sir John Major, Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Cameron and Theresa May lauded the drive to help pupils carry on learning during lockdown.

Every inhabitant of No 10 from the past three decades has now backed the initiative – a first for any newspaper campaign.

The development came as Daily Mail readers’ generosity sent the total raised to an incredible £6.9million.

Sir John, who succeeded Margaret Thatcher in 1990 and led the country until 1997, described the fundraising effort as a ‘beacon of light’ in the ‘darkest of times’.

‘I am delighted to support the Daily Mail’s campaign, not least since – so many years ago – I and my friends of those days would have been amongst the children in need of such equipment,’ he said.

‘My parents would have wanted to help and been hurt and embarrassed that – since they could not – my education might suffer.

‘Today, no parent should be forced to feel that way and no child in the UK should be put at a disadvantage because of the financial circumstances of their family.’

Tony Blair, who spent a decade in Downing Street from 1997 to 2007, said the campaign ‘highlights a burning issue – the digital divide which is continuing to impact children’s education’.

‘I fear that unless this becomes an absolute priority it will have a devastating impact on young people’s lives and life chances,’ he added.

‘Getting laptops to those who need them for lockdown learning is a matter of urgency. I wish this campaign every success in delivering for them.’

His successor, Gordon Brown, congratulated Daily Mail readers and businesses for working together to make a success of the ‘path-breaking’ crusade to deliver laptops to lockdown pupils who need them.

‘Every child is special, unique and precious, and in the 21st century their right to education must mean having a computer to learn from and access to the internet,’ he said.

Sharing his own personal experience, David Cameron said: ‘As a parent, I know how challenging home schooling during lockdown can be – all the more so if pupils don’t have the necessary computer equipment to access lessons and resources, or are having to compete with siblings and parents for time online.’

Mr Cameron, who was PM from 2010 to 2016, added: ‘I commend the Mail Force Computers for Kids campaign and thank everyone who has pledged their support. This will make an invaluable difference during these most difficult times, so I urge everyone who can to support the campaign.’

Theresa May expressed her belief that ‘everyone must be given the chance in life to go as far as their talents will take them’.

She added: ‘Providing children with the education they need is a vital part of that and I congratulate the Mail on this important and collaborative campaign, working with Government to make sure our most vulnerable children have the equipment they need to help them realise their full potential.’

Mr Johnson last week thanked the Daily Mail and its readers for ‘stepping up’ to support the efforts to get laptops to children with what he described as ‘another fantastic campaign’.

The newspaper has been raising funds for Mail Force’s Computers for Kids initiative, which aims to help prevent pupils falling further behind.

Companies are donating old laptops they no longer use. For around £15, these can be made fit for home schooling.

Last year, Mail Force donated 42million items of PPE to the NHS, care homes and charity sector front lines. The campaign won a public service award and the Mail was hailed for holding the Government to account at the same time as helping to solve the problem.

Sir John Major

I am delighted to support the Daily Mail’s campaign.

So many years ago, I would have been among the children in need. My parents would have wanted to help, and been hurt and embarrassed that – since they could not – my education might suffer.

Today no parent should be forced to feel that way.

One single donation could transform a young life… every child who receives this lifeline will forever remember that our nation has a generosity of spirit which provides a beacon of hope for all.

Tony Blair  

The pandemic has had many terrible consequences, and this campaign highlights a burning issue – the digital divide which is impacting children’s education.

Laptops and connectivity are absolutely essential for remote learning so that no child is left behind.

Unless this becomes an absolute priority it will have a devastating impact on young people’s life chances.

Getting laptops to those who need them for lockdown learning is a matter of urgency.

I wish this campaign every success in delivering for them. 

Gordon Brown

‘Congratulations are owed to the Mail for this pathbreaking initiative to help

‘Britain’s one million children who are without a computer today.

‘Every child is unique and precious, and in the 21st century their right to education must mean having a computer to learn from and access to the internet.

‘I want the country to come together and join with the Daily Mail in guaranteeing that in 2021 every single child will have the chance to learn online free of charge with the up-to-date computer they need.’

David Cameron

‘As a parent I know how challenging home schooling during lockdown can be – all the more so if pupils don’t have the computer equipment to access lessons and resources, or are having to compete with siblings and parents for time online.

‘I commend the Mail Force Computers for Kids campaign and thank everyone who has pledged their support.

‘This will make an invaluable difference during these most difficult times, so I urge everyone who can to support it.’

Theresa May

I’ve always said that everyone must be given the chance in life to go as far as their talents will take them.

Providing children with the education they need is a vital part of that, and I congratulate the Mail on this important and collaborative campaign, working with Government to make sure our most vulnerable children have the equipment they need to help them realise their full potential.

Boris Johnson

We are doing everything we can to support children and young people to learn from home while their classrooms are closed.

Making sure they have the right technology to get online is vital, which is why we’ve provided over a million laptops and devices to schools across the country so far.

At this challenging time everyone can do their bit to help and I’d like to thank the Mail and its readers for stepping up to support our efforts with another fantastic campaign.