The Birmingham Conservative Group have welcomed the Government’s support for the City’s self-employed during the Covid crisis to matching the unprecedented level of support announced by Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak for employees.
Cllr Simon Morrall (Con, Frankley Great Park) said:
“I’ve been a self-employed Web Developer and Media Consultant for five years, so I know how much freelancers, contractors, and those in the gig economy contribute to the economy. That’s why I, along with my Conservative colleagues have been lobbying the government for support!
It’s not easy being self-employed (and it’s certainly not for everyone), we often work long hours to make our trade successful, often make many huge financial sacrifices and go above and beyond to make ends meet, and very rarely do we expect help from anyone else. You also rarely hear self-employed people complain, despite not being entitled to Statutory Sick Pay or any holiday leave pay, many of us love the freedom that ‘being your own boss’ brings to daily life. The self-employed, have done so much for the economic growth of this country over the last decade, however, with the economy now in crisis due to coronavirus, now more than ever, is the time the for country to come up with a package to support them too.
That’s why I am so grateful that the government has now often to pay the self-employed a grant of 80% of their average monthly profits up to £2,500 a month. 95% of people who are majority self-employed will benefit from this scheme. I understand the difficulty in doing this. The state cannot just email a HR department offering to cover 80% of PAYE. Each and every self-employed person is distinct and unique from one other and there are huge administrational and fiscal costs in getting this right. But I think we all agree, that it needs to be done, and it needs to be done correctly!
Whether you’re a white van man, a construction worker, or the local Plummer down the road. Now is was our time of need, and know that Boris Johnson and the Conservative Government, will do everything they possibly can to help self-employed residents.”
Gary Sambrook MP for Birmingham Northfield has backed Cllr Morrall by saying:
“Self-employed and freelance workers are the backbone of many local economies. Whether it’s a local plumber or an artist they all play a vital part in our economy and community. We have to give them the support they need just as we have to many employees and businesses. So I welcome the Chancellor’s support package for the self-employed today (Thursday 26th March). It was a much needed and awaited intervention of support for a core part of our economy. The next few months are going to present us all with a challenging time but by working together and protecting jobs we can limit and reduce the economic impact on our communities as much as possible.”
Cllr Robert Alden (Con, Erdington) Leader of the Conservative Group on Birmingham City Council said:
“Nearly 70,000 people in Birmingham are self-employed, 9% of the workforce. Their passion, drive and hard work provides an invaluable contribution to the city across a broad range of activity and it is not only in the interests of fairness that they are supported now, but of long term benefit to our economy once we have put this dreadful situation behind us and are rebuilding a brighter future for everyone.”
The calls echos that made by West Midlands Mayor Andy Street who has been at the forefront of lobbying central government to protect the interests of West Midlands residents.
Early this week, Conservative West Midlands Mayor Andy Street made a statement saying:
‘I know the Government will want to move swiftly to address this, and I am personally pressing the case to ministers. The Chancellor talked last week about needing to use exciting systems to make this work, so my suggestion would be to offer tax rebates or grants for the self-employed off previous tax returns'.
