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Coronavirus: Rishi Sunak to unveil financial aid for self-employed | Coronavirus: Rishi Sunak to unveil financial aid for self-employed |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Self-employed workers facing financial difficulties as a result of coronavirus are set to be offered a package of support from the government. | Self-employed workers facing financial difficulties as a result of coronavirus are set to be offered a package of support from the government. |
Chancellor Rishi Sunak will unveil the measures later. | Chancellor Rishi Sunak will unveil the measures later. |
He set out plans for 80% wage subsidies for staff kept on by employers last week - and the PM has said he wants similar protection for freelancers. | He set out plans for 80% wage subsidies for staff kept on by employers last week - and the PM has said he wants similar protection for freelancers. |
However, Boris Johnson added he could not promise the UK would beat the virus "without any kind of hardship at all". | However, Boris Johnson added he could not promise the UK would beat the virus "without any kind of hardship at all". |
Mr Sunak said last week that the government would cover wages of up to £2,500 a month for staff being kept on by their employer, in "unprecedented" measures to prevent workers being laid off due to the virus crisis. | Mr Sunak said last week that the government would cover wages of up to £2,500 a month for staff being kept on by their employer, in "unprecedented" measures to prevent workers being laid off due to the virus crisis. |
The chancellor later said drawing up plans to help self-employed people had proved to be "incredibly complicated". | The chancellor later said drawing up plans to help self-employed people had proved to be "incredibly complicated". |
BBC business editor Simon Jack said calculating a support wage for the self-employed was difficult because their income could be lumpy, irregular and intermittent. | BBC business editor Simon Jack said calculating a support wage for the self-employed was difficult because their income could be lumpy, irregular and intermittent. |
Of the five million workers defined as self-employed at any one time in the UK, roughly one million were self-employed last year but are not now - so targeting support can also be tricky. | Of the five million workers defined as self-employed at any one time in the UK, roughly one million were self-employed last year but are not now - so targeting support can also be tricky. |
Government sources said they had struggled to find a way to avoid paying people who do not need help. | Government sources said they had struggled to find a way to avoid paying people who do not need help. |
As Parliament shut down until 21 April at the earliest due to the escalating pandemic, Mr Johnson told MPs: "We will do whatever we can to support the self-employed, just as we are putting our arms around every single employed person in this country." | |
He said there were "particular difficulties" for freelancers who are not on Pay As You Earn (PAYE) schemes, but that he wanted to achieve "parity of support" across the workforce. | He said there were "particular difficulties" for freelancers who are not on Pay As You Earn (PAYE) schemes, but that he wanted to achieve "parity of support" across the workforce. |
The total number of people in the UK to die with Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has reached 465. | The total number of people in the UK to die with Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus, has reached 465. |
A 21-year-old woman from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, who died with the virus last week, had no underlying health conditions, her family said. | A 21-year-old woman from High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, who died with the virus last week, had no underlying health conditions, her family said. |
More than 9,500 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK - although the actual number of cases is likely to be far higher. | More than 9,500 people have tested positive for the virus in the UK - although the actual number of cases is likely to be far higher. |
One of the latest people to be diagnosed is Prince Charles. The 71-year-old heir to the throne is self-isolating at Balmoral with the Duchess of Cornwall, 72, who tested negative. | One of the latest people to be diagnosed is Prince Charles. The 71-year-old heir to the throne is self-isolating at Balmoral with the Duchess of Cornwall, 72, who tested negative. |
Meanwhile the British Medical Association (BMA) warned doctors and patients would die without adequate protective equipment across the NHS. | Meanwhile the British Medical Association (BMA) warned doctors and patients would die without adequate protective equipment across the NHS. |
The BMA said doctors were risking their lives due to a lack of stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) - and said many health workers could go off sick unless urgent action is taken. | The BMA said doctors were risking their lives due to a lack of stock of personal protective equipment (PPE) - and said many health workers could go off sick unless urgent action is taken. |
Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said millions of PPE items have been sent out and a hotline has been set up so staff can report shortages. | Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said millions of PPE items have been sent out and a hotline has been set up so staff can report shortages. |
Face-to-face supervision of thousands of criminals across England and Wales is being scaled back for at least three weeks to reduce the spread of the virus. | Face-to-face supervision of thousands of criminals across England and Wales is being scaled back for at least three weeks to reduce the spread of the virus. |
Lower-risk offenders will receive phone or video calls from supervisors while about 16,000 higher-risk criminals - including sex offenders - will be asked to come to the window of their home so that probation staff outside the building can see them. | Lower-risk offenders will receive phone or video calls from supervisors while about 16,000 higher-risk criminals - including sex offenders - will be asked to come to the window of their home so that probation staff outside the building can see them. |
Only a handful of offenders, including those convicted of terror offences, will continue to have face-to-face supervision. | Only a handful of offenders, including those convicted of terror offences, will continue to have face-to-face supervision. |
It comes after the government said it was considering releasing some offenders from prisons to ease pressures caused by the pandemic. | It comes after the government said it was considering releasing some offenders from prisons to ease pressures caused by the pandemic. |
In other developments: | In other developments: |