Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Plea to bring back furlough scheme
Central Scotland MSP Gillian Mackay has slammed the UK Government for its “utterly chaotic” approach to Covid – and called for the reintroduction of the furlough scheme in Scotland.
The Scottish Greens politician believes the government has to bring back the support for employees so Scotland can take protective measures against the variant whilst protecting jobs.
She also took a swipe at Prime Minister Boris Johnson for his apparent failure to follow rules he laid out.
Ms Mackay told the Advertiser: “The UK Government has an utterly chaotic approach to Covid, with confusing messages undermined by the Prime Minister himself failing to follow the rules.
“Omicron is spreading fast and the UK Government must recognise the clear risks to vulnerable people and act decisively.
“The festive period was disrupted, with many people cancelling plans for gatherings and hospitality businesses in Lanarkshire struggling. It’s time for the UK Government to act responsibly and reintroduce furlough where it is needed.
“Self-employed people could be particularly effected, so it’s vital those who missed out last time are included in the scheme, and that sick pay is enhanced to make it easier for people to self-isolate.”
Ms Mackay added: “Reintroduction of the furlough scheme would help support workers and businesses, many of whom are already suffering due to a significant loss in trade and closures caused by local outbreaks, as well as allowing devolved governments to take public safety measures to stop the spread of the new strain of the virus.
“Without economic support from Westminster, the options available to the Scottish and Welsh governments and Northern Irish Executive are more limited.”
The First Minister told the Scottish Parliament: “There are simply no mechanisms available to the devolved administrations to trigger the scale of finance needed to support such schemes.
“We need the UK Government to act urgently and in the same way some other countries are already doing.”
She added:” we must not sleepwalk into an emergency that for both health and business will be much greater as a result of inaction than it will be if we act firmly and strongly now”.
Meanwhile, Ms Mackay has called for rent controls after a rise in payments in North Lanarkshire.
Statistics published by the Scottish Government show that, between 2010 and 2021, the average rent for a two-bedroom property in North Lanarkshire increased by 13.7 per cent.
In 2010 the average rent for a two-bedroom property was £455 per month, compared with that of £517 in 2021.
Ms Mackay said: “Many of my constituents in North Lanarkshire, along with tenants across the country, have faced eye watering rent rises in recent years.
“We simply cannot leave something as fundamental as people’s homes to market forces.
“That’s why I’m proud that the Scottish Greens will bring rent controls back to Scotland as part of a fair deal for Scotland’s renters.”