FAIR. PROPORTIONATE. DOABLE.
In this video from our ExcludedUK livestream on 24 June 2024, Andy Burnham said:
“I think there are ways we can start to frame financial asks that I think are fair, proportionate and doable.”
Those words matter even more today.
Andy has been our loudest political champion from the beginning of the ExcludedUK campaign. He has recognised that the exclusion of 3.8 million UK taxpayers from parity of Covid-19 financial support was not simply unfortunate. It was an injustice that must be rectified.
He told us:
“The public see you and the public support you.”
He promised:
“We will work with you to make sure that the excluded is recognised as one of the injustices that this country needs to rectify.”
He also made clear:
“I supported you back in the pandemic, and we support you now. The passage of time doesn’t change that.”
Now, as Prime Minister, Andy has the opportunity to work with ExcludedUK and the Gaps in Covid-19 Financial Support APPG to turn those words into action.
We are ready to discuss financial asks that are fair, proportionate and achievable.
After more than six years, the 3.8 million cannot simply be written off. Businesses, homes, livelihoods and futures were lost. More than 40 members of our community saw no other way out than to take their own lives.
Recognition is fair.
Accountability is proportionate.
Justice is doable.
Prime Minister, let us begin that work.
https://t.co/bmIoivlotd
#ExcludedUK #WeAreNotGoingAway #Relentless
From the backbenchers, now's yr chance Melvyn @MelJStride
"With his eagerness for confabulation, the Hon Member @griffitha shld take note that the decision to exclude 3m risk takers & small biz owners was taken under @Conservatives watch. Time to right our wrong."
#ExcludedUK
@griffitha@seledka_vodka Are you serious ? Small businesses ? And the self employed ?
You lot totally screwed 3 million people with lockdowns - Sunak lied over Furlough availability. SEISS calculations were a total joke.
Put people out of work, many never recovered, some committed suicide. #ExcludedUk
@_AndersonStuart And another one ...
The times the 3m #ExcludedUK hv heard some @Conservatives MP spout the usual 'backbone of Econ' is surely a record.
To re-cap: viable small biz abandoned by their unfathomable policy decision and subsequently derided for being ...the backbone of the econ !
@andyburnham Over the years you’ve done incredible work supporting families in #Wigan#Leigh and across the UK through the hardest times. With 3 more suicides since @UKLabour formed a gov, the #ExcludedUK look to you to now honour your words on financial restitution?
@PA@BBCBreakfast@GMB
@andyburnham@andyburnham just like the rules set out by @RishiSunak & @BorisJohnson that left out millions of #Excludeduk tax payers.
You have fought by our side since the pandemic but now in office not a word.. You asked what would help business? Addressing this would help!
Despite 27+ emails @YuanfenYang we are still waiting for a reply?
Your #ExcludedUK in #Earley & #Woodley are still fighting for justice and calling on @andyburnham & @JohnHealey_MP to honor restitution. If you want to win a 2nd term, now fight to get your constituents justice.??.
We are not denying that the support schemes that were put in place, at pace, were generous and saved many jobs and businesses....HOWEVER, the government made a policy decision to exclude 3.8 MILLION UK taxpayers from Covid-19 Financial Support... that is 10% of the UK workforce... larger than the population of Wales.. that is unforgiveable! Who has 2 years salary stashed down the back of the sofa?!?
Dutifully paid in, intentionally left out!
+40 #ExcludedUK members took their own lives as a direct result of being excluded from support.
For more information, visit https://t.co/bmIoivlotd
After 17 years in business it’s getting to the point where Im thinking of shutting the doors due to government and Tax it’s getting harder for self employed and government don’t care about small companies @andyburnham done my bit for #community & #policing#country #Excludeduk