Green Goddess returns to tell us: Keep fit & carry on
» Unions call for pay to be guaranteed » Tory MPs want action to save jobs
THE Green Goddess is returning to breakfast TV after nearly 40 years, to keep us active through self-isolation.
Fitness guru Diana Moran, 80, appeared on BBC Breakfast wearing a green leotard in the 1980s as she told viewers to “wake up and shape up”.
Now she is back urging viewers – especially the over-70s – to “keep fit and carry on”. She said: “It’s never too late to start looking after your fitness. It’s nice to draw on your inner strength and say, sod this thing, we ARE going to get over it.”
Diana, who is in the high-risk age bracket, has been self-isolating since last week and will film her segments via Skype. They will be on BBC Breakfast at around 6.55am and 8.55am on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. View all her routines at getready4anyage.com
MILLIONS of workers face “financial ruin” unless the Government steps in with a wages bailout, union chiefs have warned.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak held an emergency meeting with the unions and business groups yesterday after saying the Government was “working round the clock” on a package of measures to help.
But the package is not expected to be published until today or tomorrow, when thousands of jobs will already have gone.
Sources told the Mirror ministers were considering a “significant” wage subsidy scheme to support families and help the economy bounce back after the crisis.
They are thought to be looking at giving workers a minimum pay of perhaps £150 per week, or a percentage of their wages. But the Treasury is trying to work out how that would operate in practice.
Ministers are also under pressure to help millions of self-employed workers.
POVERTY
After the meeting, Frances O’Grady, General Secretary of the TUC, said: “As well as providing emergency support to business, it is essential that money goes into workers’ pockets now.
“We must do whatever it takes to stop businesses going to the wall and workers being plunged into poverty.”
Carolyn Fairbairn, Director-General of the CBI, added: “The exponential growth of the economic impact requires an urgent, bold new approach to protect pay and livelihoods.”
Tim Roache, General Secretary of the GMB, said: “Ministers must not allow workers and their families to go to the wall. Imagine being on the breadline, unable to work and being told that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually thousands more in debt to pay off. “It’s just not right.
“Huge numbers of people were covering basic living costs on credit even before this crisis struck. Suddenly finding income dry up is already pushing people to the financial brink. Ministers need to guarantee wages.”
Former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown has urged the Government to do “considerably more” in the next 48 hours to protect people’s jobs.
At his daily Downing Street press conference, Boris Johnson said companies should think “very carefully” before laying off staff. Mr Johnson said: “We do want to stand behind the companies, we do want to make sure that people recognise they should stand behind their staff, because we the British Government are going to stand behind firms.”
But some firms are already hitting staff with big pay cuts. Holiday giant Tui yesterday told staff that, from April, those required to work will have a 30% reduction in basic pay and contracted hours.
Those working less than 50% of their hours, or not at all, will receive a 50% cut.
The GMB is calling for the Government
to follow the lead of other countries in guaranteeing wages. Sweden, like Germany and Austria, is subsidising a shorter working week, halving the costs with employers so workers keep 90% of wages. Norway has promised employees 20 days’ full pay and guaranteed the self-employed 80% of their recent income. Denmark will pay 75% of income if the employer pays 25%.
Tory MPs are alarmed by the Government’s lack of action. Greg Clark, who was Business Secretary under Theresa May, urged the Government to pay wages for several weeks “if and only if ” businesses guarantee to keep their workers on.
He said: “At a stroke this would save jobs, save businesses and put an immediate end to the contagion and help save the economy.” Sir Bernard Jenkin, chairman of the Commons Liaison Committee, said: “Those of us who are not in the engine room of Government are being told by our constituents that, welcome as Tuesday’s package was, it’s simply not going to be enough.”
Former Welfare Secretary Iain Duncan Smith said ministers should spend more on Universal Credit. He said: “UC has three basic levers that could all be pulled now...to help people who are in work. This could be done today.”
Treasury minister John Glen told MPs they should “be under no doubt all models were being examined”. He also signalled the Government would look at proposals for a new coronavirus benefit worth at least £151 week. The Resolution Foundation think-tank is calling for a £22billion package to support workers.
It wants a new Statutory Retention Pay scheme. One million workers would get a flat-rate £151 a week for six months, at a cost of around £3.6bn. A more ambitious, earnings-linked scheme paying at least two-thirds of a typical salary, would cost around £8bn.
The Foundation says unemployment benefits and Universal Credit should also be increased to £100 per week, at a cost of £10bn. CORONAVIRUS Q&A: PAGES 12&13