COVID-19 and work: My letter to the Chancellor

01 Apr 2020

I am working to collate the concerns of people in Bristol West and put them to the relevant ministers. Below is a letter to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, requesting that he consider some of the people and businesses currently falling between the announced support schemes:

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COVID-19: housing rights – new information as of 27th March 2020

27 Mar 2020

The government has updated its guidance for people who rent or own their home and are struggling as a result of the Covid-19 crisis and the government policies and consequences for businesses and jobs. You can read the guidance in full here. Below is a summary of the key points:…

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COVID-19: moving home during the crisis – government guidance 26th March 2020

26 Mar 2020

Lots of you have asked lots of questions about who can and cannot travel during this crisis and what counts as essential. The basic advice is travel is only essential if to go to work, to care for a vulnerable person or to buy essential basic provisions. But some of…

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COVID-19: New support for self-employed people, agency workers and people on zero hours contracts 26/3/20

26 Mar 2020

Today the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a package of support for self-employed people and freelancers. There’s some good news for most self-employed people, though not all. The government has now published the guidance. Below is a summary of the main features. Who is entitled to help? Anyone who is…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: Benefits, support and the Job Retention Scheme

26 Mar 2020

The latest information on benefits and the Job Retention Scheme. I will try to keep my blog updated with changes and other developments – so please check for more recent posts. Summary The following information is accurate as of 23 March 2020: A new Job Retention Scheme that will provide…

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COVID-19: new government guidance on social distancing as from 23rd March

24 Mar 2020

Yesterday evening 23rd March 2020 the Prime Minister announced the tightening of rules and guidance about social distancing, including who can and who should not go to work. These rules may tighten still further but it is vital that we all follow them now – this is to protect our…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: Bristol volunteering, business support and travel

23 Mar 2020

Bristol Volunteering   Mayor Marvin Rees, Jacqui Jensen (Executive Director of People, Bristol City Council) and Sandra (CEO Voscur) will be showing a short video this evening from 6:30pm on the key messages surrounding Can Do Bristol and offering help as a volunteer in an organised way. Jacqui and Sandra…

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COVID-19: emergency legislation Coronavirus Bill

22 Mar 2020

Many of you have contacted me about the emergency legislation, the Coronavirus Bill which will be going through Parliament in the week beginning 23rd March. This email is to give you more information about the Bill and about amendments to it which Labour MPs are negotiating with the government over.…

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COVID-19 and BUSINESSES: updated 21st March help available

21 Mar 2020

Government Guidance This is a difficult time for everyone and I’ll keep trying to help. If you can’t find the information you need via my website or if there is a specific problem you need my help with please email me. I also know that the government’s latest announcements will…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 16.00, Friday 20 March 2020 – Update on business assistance from HMRC

20 Mar 2020

I have received the information below from HM Revenue and Customs: HMRC is ready to help all businesses, and self-employed individuals, in financial difficulty due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Any business affected by the outbreak can find detailed guidance on GOV.UK. If you are concerned about not being able to…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 08.00, 20th March 2020: SCHOOLS

20 Mar 2020

Many of you have contacted me about the guidance for schools and I spent several hours yesterday trying to get clarity as schools were told to close to most children as of 5pm today. Early this morning the guidance was published. Guidance for schools and education providers here. Guidance for…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 13.45, Thursday 19 March 2020 – Financial impact on leisure, tourism and hospitality industries

19 Mar 2020

Coronavirus will touch all our lives, not least those working in the tourism, events and hospitality industry. I have been contacted by many people working in Bristol’s hotels, tourist sites, theatres, bars, restaurants, clubs and festivals, who are desperately worried about how the virus will affect their lives and livelihoods.…

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In a national crisis, the government must listen to MPs from all parties – and their constituents

19 Mar 2020

Today I begged Treasury minister John Glen to listen to MPs’ suggestions from across the House of Commons and put them into action. We are facing a public health emergency. We are also facing an unprecedented economic crisis affecting every person in this country, in different and complicated ways. Members…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 18.00, Tuesday 17 March 2020 – Government response

17 Mar 2020

Today the Prime Minister and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, gave their first daily press release where they announced extra measures for businesses and support for individuals. Whilst there are still questions unanswered, and I believe the government must still go further with support for the self-employed and…

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Creative, hospitality and entertainment industries need clarity from the government

17 Mar 2020

People in Bristol West, business owners, musicians, cafe staff, and others are all contacting me, worried sick about a loss of work because of lack of clarity from the government. On Politics Live today, I was shown a tweet by journalist Matt Dathan, who said “the Association of British Insurance…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 17.45, Tuesday 17 March 2020 – Financial support, sick pay and self-isolation

17 Mar 2020

If you’re off sick or told to stay home because of coronavirus If you’re following government guidance because you have coronavirus symptoms, you’ll be considered unfit for work. You’ll also be considered unfit for work if you’re staying at home, or ‘self-isolating’, because you’ve been in contact with someone with coronavirus. You’ll…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 17.00, 17 March, 2020 – Volunteering and support for the vulnerable

17 Mar 2020

ACORN (A Community of Organising) are running a volunteering scheme, partnering up at-risk people with those who are healthy and want to help. If you need support, or want to sign up and help volunteer or donate please follow this link. Bristol City Council are also putting into place a…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 15.00, Tuesday 17 March 2020 – news from Bristol City Council

17 Mar 2020

Bristol City Council have created a page dedicated to Coronavirus which you can see here. It contains useful and updated information.  As of tomorrow, all Bristol Museums will be closed until 1 May 2020 initially. As of Thursday 19 March, Bristol Libraries will close and provide only online services. There…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 19.06, Monday 16th March 2020 – PM and Health Secretary statements

16 Mar 2020

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has just given a statement to the House of Commons which was a repeat of the statement given by the Prime Minister earlier in the first of his daily press conferences. Matt Hancock is still answering questions from MPs and the PM took questions from…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 16.40, Monday 16th March 2020 – some useful websites for advice, all regularly updated

16 Mar 2020

Official government advice​ including sections for employers and businesses EU guidance​ on Covid-19 Advice from IPSE​ (the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed) on dealing with Covid-19 Government tax helpline​ to support freelancers being affected by Covid-19 Employment Support Allowance Universal Credit Government support for businesses for dealing…

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COVID-19 UPDATE: 16.14, Monday 16th March 2020

16 Mar 2020

The Chancellor announced various measures last week to help with the immediate financial implications of the impact of the COVID-19 health crisis. These include the expansion of Statutory Sick Pay for employees and the ability for employers to claim it back. You can read more about this on the government…

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