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
@JOwusuNepaul After years of betrayal by the State, 3.8 million #ExcludedUK voters are politically homeless. If @andyburnham keeps his word and delivers the restitution he's long championed, trust can be restored and many would seriously then consider returning to @UKLabour!
@10DowningStreet
@IanByrneMP@garyseconomics Gary, you've exposed how inequality is breaking the UK. Now help shine a light on #ExcludedUK. Millions left without meaningful support, facing debt, poverty and business loss. @andyburnham has long championed this. Help NOW turn his words into Justice
@UKLabour@APPGGapsSupport
@TracyBrabin It was great to see you in #London outside on Monday Tracy after years standing shoulder to shoulder me. Now urge @andyburnham to deliver the restitution he's long championed. He now has the power to end the #ExcludedUK injustice in #WestYorkshire@APPGGapsSupport
@yorkshirepos
Calls along side with #excludeduk & @andyburnham in the past & with @JohnDCaudwell who really empathised & called out the tories in support for us which we are so grateful for. We now have a life line I hope with Andy who has always backed us but was limited in what he could
@andyburnham@AngelaRayner. Six and a half years on, 3.8 million #ExcludedUK sme's, the self-employed, freelancers and others are still asking why successive PM's have left us behind. Andy, now is the time to deliver the financial restitution you've long championed
@APPGGapsSupport@PA@GMB
@ExcludedFighter@andyburnham@AngelaRayner@APPGGapsSupport@PA@GMB 3.8 million people ignored. Some souls no longer with us. Businesses, families and lives forever changed by the cruelest of cuts. Andy, Prime Minister. Please help those who, by their very entrepreneurial spirit always helped themselves, but no longer can #ParityNotCharity
@RogerJ_01@BBCNWT On behalf of 3.8 million self-employed, freelancers and others in hospitality that we represent at @ExcludedUK, i agree that himself and Mike at the @ntiaofficial have been instrumental in helping to ease the hardship for so so many of our #ExcludedUK members still in crisis.
@ExcludedUK 3) People lost their livelihoods. Their homes! Some I remember took their own lives, People are still suffering years later. All those millions of people left out and not receiving any help! It was absolutely devastating. I hope it never happens again! 😔
@ExcludedUK 2) The BB loan hubby had to take out to survive I had to pay back from my father’s inheritance. I was lucky to get a small grant as I was self employed. Plus we had to sign on. It was a tough time. I do hope @andyburnham does help to rectify this as no one deserved to suffer 😔
@ExcludedUK 1) My hubby was excluded. We tried everything from talking to our local MP and I even went on the radio. I remember joining when the FB group started. I still have my Excluded sticker on my rear window of my car. I still follow but I feel nothing is ever going to change….
@Sacha_Lord@andyburnham A great start Sacha. Next up as discussed outside @downingstreet on Monday, is for Andy and @JohnHealey_MP's @UKLabour gov to honor his long-standing calls for financial redress for the #ExcludedUK to end the cycle of SME closures, bankruptcies, job losses, poverty, and despair.