MP urges Chancellor to use next week’s budget to catch those falling through the cracks
On the floor of the House of Commons this week, South Lakes MP Tim Farron urged the Government to support those people who are still missing out financial support during this crisis such as directors of small limited companies and people who have become recently self-employed in the last 12 months.
Next week the Chancellor will unveil an emergency budget statement to tackle the threat of millions of job losses due to the coronavirus crisis.
Speaking during a debate in Parliament, Tim said: "It is still beyond me that the Government have still not been able to find a package to support people who make their living by being directors of very small limited companies.
"I can think of a person I know well in my constituency who is a photographer. He is a one-person band, effectively; he is not the director of some large corporation. His income has been completely stopped these past three months.
"The Government surely could still find ways of ensuring that directors of small limited companies are able to get support."
Kendal-based photographer Steven Barber said "I work with a wide range of clients throughout the county in hospitality & tourism, arts & culture, health & education, architecture & construction.
"The work I had booked in for the next few months suddenly disappeared, but I was relieved when Chancellor Rishi Sunak made his speech about supporting the self-employed and that we would not be forgotten. My relief was short- lived when I found out he didn't mean me or millions of freelancers and small limited company directors.
"It's frustrating when others, quite rightly, were able to furlough themselves and receive grants when someone who takes a small PAYE wage and supplements their income with dividends gets the bare minimum and in many cases nothing at all, despite paying tax and National Insurance.
"I'm lucky to have a fairly solid client base in the Lake District but we're all having a tough time and need reassurance we will get help now so we can hit the ground running when business begins to get back to normal.
"I'm incredibly grateful to Tim Farron for raising this issue in parliament and I hope he get cross party support and the Treasury listens to our plight."