MP calls for urgent support to help the excluded from falling into deeper debt

On the floor of the House of Commons this week, South Lakes MP Tim Farron urged the Government to provide immediate support for the excluded to prevent them from falling into "deep and desperate debt'.

Around three million people have been excluded from the Government's coronavirus financial support schemes, with many forced to live on no income since March.

Speaking in Parliament, Tim said: "I am deeply critical of some of the Government's approach on this issue, not least on some of the economic areas, where there has been a blind spot when it comes to the 3 million people, we believe, who have been excluded from any kind of support whatsoever.

"I think of people who have been self-employed for 18 months or less in my constituency. I think of people running small limited companies - taxi drivers, personal trainers, hairdressers - getting absolutely nothing for seven or eight months, or people who happened to have been on the payroll just a day or two too late earlier this spring.

"Those people, who are the backbone of our economy - the entrepreneurs we need to drive the recovery when, eventually, normality returns - are left in deep and desperate debt, not sure if they can afford to put food on the table for their children or pay to keep a roof over their heads.

"The Government must act and must act now to help those who have been excluded."