MAYOR DAN JARVIS: GOVERNMENT MUST DELIVER CHRISTMAS RESCUE FOR WORKERS EXCLUDED FROM FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Published 8 December 2020 at 10:57am

“We need our self-employed workers, freelancers and small businesses to thrive if South Yorkshire is going to stand a chance of getting back on our feet after COVID.” That’s the message that Mayor Dan Jarvis gave to the All Party Parliamentary Group – Gaps in Support hearing today (8 December).

The Mayor of the Sheffield City Region spoke to a group of cross-party MPs about how COVID restrictions have affected people and communities across the North of England and in South Yorkshire. In particular, he highlighted those who have been excluded from the Government’s Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS).

A recent Resolution Foundation report found 2.9 million (10% of the workforce) people across the UK are still ineligible for support.

It’s estimated that there are approximately 68,000 people in South Yorkshire who are currently excluded from any Government support. These are more likely to be freelancers and the recently self-employed, of which South Yorkshire has the highest proportion of any City Region in England – at 13.1%.

There are more than 18,000 self-employed workers in the accommodation, retail and leisure sectors. This means that one in four of those who are self-employed in South Yorkshire are working in the worst hit industries.

In total, more than 44,000 businesses operate in these sectors across Yorkshire and Humber have been directly impacted by COVID restrictions – that 20% of businesses based in the region.

He called for Ministers to take urgent action ahead of the Christmas period, to step in and support workers who have fallen through the gaps. In his speech, the Mayor highlighted how some venues make 40% of their annual profits between Halloween and January, it’s clear that losing out on the valuable Christmas trading period, may be a blow that many businesses cannot recover from.

Mayor Jarvis said: “We’ve heard how the Coronavirus does not discriminate, but in the North of England, we know that this is not true. The health and economic impact of this virus has been felt with more ferocity in the North than the South.

“No one expected the Government to get exactly the right financial packages of support for everyone back in March, and it’s true to say that the Treasury has not sat by during this crisis. However, nine months on, there are still significant gaps in the financial support and for the Government to have not plugged these, is not acceptable.

“I speak to my constituents on a daily basis who are suffering and are being driven into debt and poverty through no fault of their own. The Chancellor made a promise to ‘do whatever it takes’ to help us through this – he needs to act now to fulfil this promise.

“I’m working hard with our Local Authority leaders to top up the Government grant as much as possible, but we don’t have enough resources to cover all the losses caused as a result of the restrictions.

“We are doing all we can, but we can’t do it alone. We need the Government to step up and start listening to the 2.9 million people who are currently excluded. If South Yorkshire is to emerge from this pandemic a stronger, greener and fairer economy and society we need to ensure our self-employed, entrepreneurs and small business can survive and thrive.”