Soccer star Marcus Rashford, who has emerged as one of the UK's most respected campaigners for low-income families, targets Boris Johnson's benefits top-up cut

• Soccer star Marcus Rashford criticized the government for cutting benefits for millions of families.
• Rashford made the comments while accepting an honorary doctorate from the University of Manchester.

A young soccer star who received an honorary doctorate for his work tackling childhood poverty has criticized the government for reducing social security benefits.

Manchester United player Marcus Rashford, 23, received the honorary degree from The University of Manchester on Thursday, but said the timing was "bittersweet."

"Yesterday, millions of families across the UK lost a lifeline and a means of staying afloat," Rashford said as he accepted the honor, according to the BBC.

Rashford was referring to the UK government's decision to end a £20 ($27) weekly extra payment to those on Universal Credit, a benefit payment for working-age people who have a low household income.

The increase in payments had been introduced in response to the pandemic, and the scheme officially ended on Wednesday.

In his speech Rashford warned that the decision could see child poverty rise to 1 in 3 children, the BBC reported.

"It's time that representatives got out into communities like mine," he said. "It's time they saw first-hand the true measure of struggle."

Rashford told BBC Breakfast that he empathized with families struggling with poverty, having experienced it in his own childhood.

"You've got to decide whether you're going to eat or whether you're going to be warm in the house. These are decisions that you don't want people to go through, never mind children," he said.

The soccer player added that there was still uncertainty in the wake of COVID-19, and that the cost of living has increased.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Breakfast that if the extra payment was to be continued, the government would need to source £6 billion either through raising taxes or increasing fuel prices further.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer praised Rashford for his "very, very powerful" comments and said the government was "effectively turning on the poorest," the BBC reported.

Former prime minister Gordon Brown also tweeted a message congratulating Rashford for "standing up for millions in need."

-Gordon Brown (@GordonBrown) October 8, 2021

Former President Barack Obama has also previously praised the soccer star for his activism.

The young soccer player has become a champion for social justice in the UK, regularly speaking out on topics including racism and child food poverty.

During the pandemic, Rashford criticized the government's decision to not extend free school meals over the summer holidays, and won immense public support.

Eventually, the government announced a £120m Covid summer food fund, although Prime Minister Boris Johnson claimed to be unaware of Rashford's campaign.

During his career at Manchester United, one of the top clubs in the UK, Rashford has scored 88 goals.