Alan Brown MP calls for UK Government to extend SEIS

Alan Brown MP calls on the UK Government to extend the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

The representative for Kilmarnock and Loudoun says the Tories will be treating his self-employed constituents as “second class workers” if they do not extend the initiative.

Although the Job retention Scheme will continue until October, SEISS has yet to be extended by the UK Government. But Mr Brown – along with other MPs – is demanding the Chancellor continues to support the many self-employed workers across the UK. 

Commenting, the MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun said:

“As part of a cross-party initiative I signed a letter to the Chancellor calling for an extension to the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. 

“It is welcome that they have extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, but they must also support the many self-employed constituents in Kilmarnock and Loudoun as well as the rest of the UK. I raised this with Jesse Norman MP as soon as the furlough scheme was announced as being extended.

“Some of my self-employed constituents may be able to return to work over the coming weeks and months, it remains likely that many will not. If the scheme does not continue, they will be left without work and without support.

“I am calling on the Chancellor to ensure SEISS is continued and for him to provide details of an extension as soon as possible. Frankly, the UK Government will be treating the self-employed as second class workers if they do not extend this scheme.

“Additionally, the Chancellor has not taken cognisance of the Scottish Government’s advice on what are acceptable working activities at this moment in time.

“It has never been clearer that Holyrood should be given the borrowing powers in order to set up our own scheme for the self-employed.”