Gavin Williamson accused of mixing up Marcus Rashford with black rugby player Maro Itoje

 Marcus Rashford has mocked Education Secretary Gavin Williamson after the politician was accused of confusing the footballer for England rugby star Maro Itoje.

Responding to reports that Mr Williamson had confused him for Itoje, Rashford wrote on Twitter: “Accent could have been a giveaway.”

He was commenting on a report by journalist Tom Newton Dunn, for London’s Evening Standard, that Mr Williamson has never had direct communication with Rashford.

In an interview with the newspaper, Mr Williamson said he met Rashford “over Zoom and he seemed incredibly engaged, compassionate and charming but then he had to shoot off”.

Image:Gavin Williamson actually spoke to rugby star Maro Itoje

But Newton Dunn then wrote: “Later Williamson’s team tell me he actually met the rugby player Maro Itoje, who campaigned to bridge the digital divide, not Rashford.

“Rashford’s spokesperson confirms that he has never had any direct communication with Williamson, although the minister did have a call with Itjoe about equal access to education during the pandemic.”

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson paid tribute to Mr Williamson for having done a “heroic job” during the COVID pandemic.

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