Ten things the government can do right now to prevent a Corona depression
Ten things the government can do right now to prevent a Corona depression
News brief - 20/03/20 View this email in your browser
Ten things the government can do right now to prevent a Corona depression
Earlier this week, the government announced a package of support for business during the Coronavirus crisis worth £330 billion, but as Lord John Hendy QC reports, there was almost no support for workers. Although Statutory Sick Pay is now available from the first day of absence from work (rather than the fourth day, as was previously the case), its rate is so low that eligible workers risk being pushed into poverty. Meanwhile, millions could face losing their jobs altogether.
Lord John Hendy QC goes on to recommend government intervention to prevent redundancies and suggests it is time to consider the implementation of Univeral Basic Income (UBI) to keep those forced to stay at home afloat. Over 170 of his parliamentary colleagues agree with him, with a cross-party group from across both Houses writing to Chancellor Rishi Sunak urging him to introduce an emergency UBI package large enough to cover the basic living costs of those no longer able to make an income.
They were publicly opposed by a party of one - Iain Duncan Smith - who said the introduction of UBI would be provide a 'disincentive' for people to go to work.
Elsewhere, experts have provided guidance on what else the government can do - right now, without the need for Parliament to vote on changes to primary legislation - to save the UK's economy from destruction, and thereby lessen the scale of the resulting poverty and job losses. Dr Ewan McGaughey led a group of 40 experts to provide a list of ten small changes the government should make.
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LORD JOHN HENDY QC: The Coronavirus Bill will leave millions in poverty
The government's plan to manage the Coronavirus pandemic is almost entirely aimed at supporting business but leaves workers out in the cold.
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DR EWAN MCGAUGHEY: Ten things the government can do right now to prevent a Corona depression
Social rights aren't just morally just, they could save us from economic catastrophe.
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