Government urged to 'show some humanity' as Stone delivers ExcludedUK petition
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North MP Jamie Stone stepped up his campaign on behalf of those excluded from UK government support schemes by handing in a petition to the Treasury today.
He was joined by politicians from all parties as well as those who started the petition and money-saving expert Martin Lewis – and declared that the aim was to get the government to "show some humanity".
Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, set up an all-party parliamentary group with non-governmental organisation ExcludedUK to help the estimated three million people who have been excluded from UK government Covid-19 schemes.
According to latest figures, some 5.86 million taxpayers have been excluded from government support. Further statistics from ExcludedUK and the Standard Life Foundation also show that 57 per cent of those excluded believe they will only be able to survive financially for three months or less.
After today's event, Mr Stone said: “Standing outside the Treasury with people who have had no government support since March was incredibly touching and powerful.
“We will continue to press the government and hold them to their promise to 'leave no-one behind'.
“After hearing the overwhelming and heartbreaking stories from the millions excluded, I set up an all-party parliamentary group which now has 222 MPs as members. I am proud to be a leading force in the campaign to get the government to show some humanity, to listen to these people and secure support.”
People and businesses excluded from support schemes include:
- Newly self-employed
- Self-employed with +£50k trading profits
- Less than 50 per cent income through self-employment
- PAYE freelancers
- New starters
- Those denied furlough
- Directors filing PAYE annually
- Directors paid in dividends
- Directors of companies not in profit
- New businesses
- Low-investment start-ups
- Those ineligible for business grants
- Those ineligible due to circumstances such as parental leave or pension payments
- Stone sets up cross-party group to help those excluded from Covid-19 support
- Stone accuses Chancellor of 'not listening' over millions excluded from help
