Throughout the Covid-19 crisis, I have linked my backing for the measures we need to tackle the virus with demands for support from those whose livelihoods have been affected (see more here). Today I challenged the Prime Minister on the issue when he came to Parliament to report on the latest position with the pandemic.

I highlighted the cases of self-employed constituents who have been without support for a year, businesses in supply chains which have been unable to furlough staff, newly established businesses which have missed out and other who have fallen foul of administrative deadlines. I pushed him for specific commitments to address the problems, including the latest proposals from the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Gaps in Support, of which I’m a member, for a Targeted Income Grant Scheme.

He dodged the question and talked down the scale of the problem, but I’ll keep pressing on the issue.

Watch our exchange here.