Stephen Morgan MP has written to the Chancellor on behalf of struggling Portsmouth residents who have fallen through gaps in Government’s patchy support.
In conjunction with the ExcludedUK campaign, a campaign for individuals and businesses entirely or largely excluded from the Government’s Covid-19 financial support measures, the city MP is demanding that the chancellor urgently meet with campaign organisers.
Stephen Morgan MP said:
“The Treasury Select Committee identified well over a million people who have lost livelihoods through no fault of their own. With a great deal of small businesses and freelancers, this has hit Portsmouth people hard.
If we are to avoid unnecessary spikes in poverty, unemployment and rising levels of debt and a mental health pandemic, government must take urgent action to address the patchy support offered.”
There are many people currently excluded from government support. This includes those in between jobs or due to start new jobs after 19 March, the newly self-employed and new businesses, some self-employed, those in less than 50% self-employment, those on parental leave, those on PAYE freelance short-term contracts, low investment start-ups, small limited company owner-directors, businesses ineligible for grants and more.
The Portsmouth South MP has joined a cross party group committed to working with Government to find a solution. This latest action follows a series of steps to help those affected. He added:
“Powerful testimonies delivered by those affected combined with my inbox bursting with individuals facing financial turmoil is a testament to the fact government must do better.
The Chancellor must listen to those directly affected so that Government can understand where support is lacking and the what this is doing to people’s lives.
That’s why I demanded the Chancellor meet with the ExcludedUK campaign representatives, so that we can help all of those suffering from lack of support, and really make a change.”
Stephen Morgan MP has been in regular communication with local residents and this is not the first time he has taken action on their behalf over failing government support.
Already he has written to the Chancellor on behalf of the self-employed and small businesses as well as submitted questions to the Business Secretary and grilled Ministers in parliament. He has vowed to continue supporting the ExcludedUK campaign, and Portsmouth people and who have been effected by the government’s lacking support schemes.
