SNP boss Ian Blackford will ask Boris Johnson and Chancellor Rishi Sunak to implement a five point plan to protect workers from the fall-out of the coronavirus outbreak at a Downing Street meeting this morning.
The Chancellor has been under increasing pressure from the SNP, Lib Dems, Labour, unions and even senior Tory MPs to do more to help workers and the stalling economy weather the crisis.
Mr Blackford, who is due to meet the prime minister at 11.30am, has warned that unemployment could go through the roof and poverty could soar – unless a wide-ranging multi-billion package is urgently introduced to save jobs and put cash in people’s pockets.
The SNP Westminster leader said: “There is now a very real risk that the UK is heading for a devastating economic crisis, which could see unemployment go through the roof and levels of poverty soar.
“It is absolutely imperative that the UK government takes immediate action by introducing a wide-ranging multi-billion financial package for people today – to save jobs and protect incomes.
“The scale of the UK government’s response must meet the unprecedented nature of this emergency.
“Thousands of people are already losing their jobs and livelihoods. Millions face the same threat. The UK government must deliver the immediate support that is needed without further delay.”
The SNP is urging the UK government to immediately implement five key measures:
- Ensure everyone has a guaranteed income – using the tax and welfare system to put thousands of pounds direct in people’s pockets through a Universal Basic Income, reverse National Insurance, or another mechanism.
- Raise the UK’s Statutory Sick Pay rate to the EU national average – and expand entitlement, including for the self-employed and those under the earnings threshold.
- Introduce a Statutory Retention Pay Scheme – covering at least 75% of employees’ salaries on a monthly basis (for 3 months), with companies paying the remaining amount.
- Provide a lifeline to the hospitality sector – with a Statutory Retention Pay Scheme covering 100% of hospitality sector employees’ salaries on a monthly basis (for 3 months)
- Deliver an immediate increase to Universal Credit and Child Benefit – increasing the Universal Credit monthly allowance to £100 per week, and issuing automatic grants on day one of application, not hardship loans.
The Chancellor has promised to unveil an emergency package at the daily Covid-19 press conference in Downing Street later today.
One proposal under discussion is for the UK to follow the lead of countries such as Denmark, where the government has promised to cover 75% of salaries at private companies for three months, if they promise not to let staff go.
The announcement will come just days after the government unveiled a range of financial measures including £330bn in loans, £20bn in other aid, a business rates holiday, and grants for retailers and pubs.
