UK government showing 'unforgivable' lack of compassion over excluded millions, says Stone
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North MP Jamie Stone has accused the UK government of an "unforgivable" lack of care and compassion for those who are excluded from its Covid-19 support schemes.
Mr Stone, who is chairman of the ExcludedUK parliamentary group, is promoting a charity fundraising initiative run by Samaritans called Mind the Gaps.
He has been at the forefront of efforts to help the estimated three million people who have been excluded from support for what have been described as "completely arbitrary" reasons. Those affected range from the newly self-employed to PAYE freelancers as well as new starters and people denied furlough.
In the wake of Covid-19, Samaritans' helplines have had a surge in calls from people excluded from government schemes. The Mind the Gaps initiative aims to raise £1 million so that Samaritans can continue to assist those hit hardest by the pandemic.
The initiative has the backing of many groups working to protect excluded people, including ForgottenPAYE, New Starter Justice, Forgotten Ltd and the BBC PAYE Freelancers Support Group.
After launching the appeal, Mr Stone, the Liberal Democrat MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, said: “The toll that being excluded from support has taken on millions of people across the UK is something that weighs heavily on my mind. Nobody should have to deal with an unprecedented global pandemic followed immediately by a loss of income through no fault of their own.
"I am in total awe of what those excluded from government support are doing to support one another and am thankful to Samaritans for everything they have done so far.
"However, they have had to do this in the absence of a caring, compassionate government who place no priority on people's mental health. That, I have to say, is unforgivable."
The founder and spokesperson of Mind the Gaps, Ellie Phillips, said: “We have seen rapidly increasing numbers of excluded taxpayers experiencing a steep decline in mental health.
"The same themes run through their cries for help – severe financial worries, worthlessness, confusion, hopelessness and feelings of being a burden on those around them.”
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