Sarah Champion MP Calls for Government to Act to Support Those Left Behind by Coronavirus Income Schemes

Sarah Champion MP, Member of Parliament for Rotherham has today called on the government to keep its word to those left unable to work due to coronavirus restrictions.

The Treasury Committee recently reported that more than a million people have been unable to access support under either the Job Retention Scheme (JRS) or the Self Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS). This includes those who have only recently become self-employed and those who have recently changed jobs and were not included on a PAYE submission before 19th March.

Speaking during Treasury Questions, Sarah said:

“In his announcement of the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, the Chancellor told self-employed people that they have not been forgotten and will not be left behind. But the Treasury Committee has found that more than a million people have been unable to benefit from either that scheme or the Job Retention Scheme. Will the Chancellor commit to acting to ensure, true to his word, that no one is left to face this crisis alone?”

Responding for the government, Chancellor Rishi Sunak said:

“With regard to the Self Employment Scheme, 95% of those who are majority self-employed are able to benefit from that scheme, also in terms of the scheme design and the duration which it lasts, the breadth of its coverage and the generosity of its support, it remains the most generous and comprehensive self-employment support scheme in the world.”

Commenting on the need to deliver support, Sarah said:

“The government pledged that no-one would be left to face the huge financial disruption caused by coronavirus restrictions alone. Yet they continue to turn a blind eye to the more than one million people left to do exactly that. I have repeatedly called for the government to stand by its word and to deliver for those who have been left behind. But to date they have refused to do so.’

‘I will be doing everything I can to force the government to meet its responsibility to those been overlooked and are facing a dark future as a consequence.  It is outrageous that people in Rotherham have been forgotten by the government’s coronavirus response and I will keep fighting for the financial future of my constituents.”