Self-employed Littlehampton councillor expresses concerns with Government support scheme

Mike Northeast is a Labour town councillor for Wickbourne ward and is on Arun District Council, representing Courtwick with Toddington.

But for his day job, he is an electrical contractor that carries out electrical testing for small businesses and insurance claims.

As the coronavirus outbreak has taken hold, businesses deemed non-essential have been forced to close and people have been told to stay at home.

While the Government initially announced schemes to support business and their employees, those who were self-employed were left in the dark - prompting Mike to receive several emails from concerned residents.

But on Thursday, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

At the time, he said: "I know that many self-employed people are deeply anxious about the support available for them.

"Musicians and sound engineers; plumbers and electricians; taxi drivers and driving instructors; hairdressers and childminders and many others, through no fault of their own, risk losing their livelihoods.

"To you, I say this: You have not been forgotten. We will not let you behind. We are all in this together."

This will allow self employed people affected by coronavirus to get a taxable grant worth 80% of their average monthly profits over the last three years, up to £2,500 a month.

The scheme would be up and running no later than June, said Mr Sunak, who described it as 'one of the most generous in the world'.

In response, Mike 'welcomed' the announcement, but feared there were drawbacks.

He said: “In an area where there is one of the highest concentrations of self employed people in the country, on the face of it the Chancellor’s help for them is most welcome but like myself who just do enough to live on every month, having to wait until June for any payment will not help to pay the bills now.

"The supermarkets won’t let us have food now and pay for it in June or put fuel in our vehicles plus all the other bills that need paying weekly.

"We know it’s a very complex issue but just throwing the self employed on the mercy of the benefit system until June isn’t the answer as when you contact them you are told that there are tens of thousands in the queue in front of you.

"Loss of earnings are now, bills to pay are now, any help is needed now, not in three months."

He added that because the help was based on having three years of profits through self-employment, he was concerned many may not qualify.

He also felt the Government needed to 'embrace all self employed otherwise there will be a huge lack of tradespeople when we are through this virus'.