Major gaps in our safety net
We are in the middle of unprecedented times – and that means we need an unprecedented response from our governments and leaders, particularly those who have the financial power.
Currently, that means the UK Government and the Treasury, and, while they were slow to understand and react to the coronavirus crisis, I welcome many of the measures they’ve rolled out over recent weeks.
However, it’s clear there are major gaps in the safety net the UK Government has implemented.
People who moved jobs after the start of March now find themselves with no possibility of furlough under their new employers and are losing their jobs, leaving them without income.
For the self employed, while there is at least some support in place, there are far too many loopholes and conditions that allow people to go unsupported.
Anyone who started a business in the last year faces real challenges in keeping an income of any kind.
Many will have to claim Universal Credit and wait weeks for any kind of payment.
For business, while the support from the Scottish Government on business rates could save many thousands of shops from going under, our high streets are facing ruin if the UK Chancellor doesn’t recognise that a one size fits all approach isn’t going to cut it if we want shops to exist in sizeable numbers once this crisis is over.
To top it all off, the large scale cuts in the Department of Work and Pensions over recent years have left it utterly unable to cope with the massive numbers of people now having to seek the help they’re entitled to, with online queues lasting hours simply to allow people to start their claim.
For years, many of us have called for a social security system that treats people with dignity and recognises that for most, losing a job is not their fault.
This crisis should be the wake up call the UK Government so obviously needed to stop demonising those on benefits and start supporting our citizens properly.
We need a universal basic income now, supporting everyone who now finds themselves in terrible financial circumstances through absolutely no fault of their own.
Instead of dreaming up complex schemes and application criteria, it’s time for the UK Government to be bold and make sure everyone in this country has the money to survive and pay the bills.
There is no sugar coating the position we all find ourselves in.
None of us have gone through such an experience and the plain fact is we don’t know when the way we have to live our lives will begin to resemble something we recognise as normal.
But following the advice now increases the chances of this period ending sooner, rather than later.
The longer the virus remains spreading, the longer the measures will have to stay in place.
So, for all our sakes, please stay at home and play your own part in stopping coronavirus and protecting our NHS.
Lastly, I want to say thank you to everyone who is working to support our communities and society at this stressful and difficult time – our shop staff, delivery drivers, carers, police officers, firefighters, posties, binmen, nurses, doctors,cleaners, porters, and millions more, who are keeping our services going – many of them lifesaving – when we have never needed them more.