Rishi Sunak speech....

[unhappyclap]

What are people thinking so far?

Anyone who's good at economics.....how will they pay for this?

If they borrow it, how will they pay it back? Our government are already nearly 2 trillion in debt, 85% of our GDP.

Or will they print it? In which case surely inflation will fly up?

There is no magic money tree. I am self employed and have been most of my adult life. When you’re SE you know full well you do not get paid holiday, paid sick leave, paid maternity etc. None of the extra benefits of being employed. You have to plan for disaster because at any time you could be taken unwell or lose your client base. That is why the SE have to save and budget to be able to cope in crisis. How the SE on this thread can now moan about the government assistance on offer is quite mind boggling. As others have said. People are dying. Old people are isolated. The NHS staff are working like dogs to help and SE are complaining because they want more. Wow

You are There is no magic money tree. I am self employed and have been most of my adult life. When you’re SE you know full well you do not get paid holiday, paid sick leave, paid maternity etc. None of the extra benefits of being employed. You have to plan for disaster because at any time you could be taken unwell or lose your client base. That is why the SE have to save and budget to be able to cope in crisis. How the SE on this thread can now moan about the government assistance on offer is quite mind boggling. As others have said. People are dying. Old people are isolated. The NHS staff are working like dogs to help and SE are complaining because they want more. Wow*

You are assuming all self employed make the kind of profit where saving to cover yourself for 6 months for a pandemic is reasonable?
I'm a self employed private carer. I'm on the front line looking after elderly and vulnerable people in their own homes. If I, or they, get sick then I cannot work. Why am I being thrown under the bus here?

@BeijingBikini Well the future will have income tax rises & I expect no pension for me (30s) but they don't really have a choice

However 50% of employees at my job have been cut today! Does anyone know if there is still a chance for them to get their jobs back?

That will be up to the company. If the company takes them back but has them staying at home not working until work picks up again, the company can claim te 80% to pay them. However, there is no compulsion on the company to do this.

I’m the last person to ever praise a Tory government but this package has exceeded my wildest dreams. God knows what the price of it is but it must be massive.

I think what they’re offering is pretty damn extensive, no idea if it’s affordable for the country but it makes me very grateful that I live in a country that is in a position to do this, and very worried for those who don’t.

I'm a freelancer and disgusted that employed people get 80% and up to 2.5k per week (!) and I can get max £94 SSP a week despite earning as much as an employed person and contributing equally in tax, NI etc. Shame on the Govt. Inequality at its finest.

just because you can't help everyone doesn't mean you can't help some people

to be honest, as a complete non-Tory I am staggered that they govt has gone as far as they have and am pleased that they seem genuinely trying to do their best for the country as a whole. Given how quickly things have changed in the past week the amount of things that have been announced is quite incredible.

I hope that more measures are unveiled in the coming days and weeks to help as many people as possible but none of us are going to come out of this unscathed in one form or another.

One day this will be over and those who live through it and survive it will never forget it.

Stay safe.

Anyone who's good at economics.....how will they pay for this?

Borrowing and I guess certain projects will be cancelled.

I think that taxes will be rising a lot in the next few years, however, I don't really see what choice they have got right now (and I am so not a conservative supporter). Public services would normally be cut, however as all of the new measures are short term only, we will revert to the pre virus levels of public services. There isn't a lot more to cut there.

This debt will take a long time to pay off.

The Chancellor has done well.

Who'd have thought a Conservative Government directly paying the nations wages.

I've got so many stories for the grandchildren- if I live to see them.

Too all those saying the overall package is no good- well it's hard to please snowflakes.

And before I get flamed, I'm in the Self employed category.

After we have long forgotten about Covid19 we'll attack the Government over the cost to the countries balance of payments

@magicmallow - it's not up to 2.5K a week, that is a month.

I don't think the support for SE has been enough by the way, just pointing out that it is not 2.5 a week, that would be madness.

@sotiredofthislife - yes, people on benefits must really struggle on £400 per month. Now increased to £480. Absolutely.
Why are PAYE being treated so differently to self-employed? We all pay our taxes and NI. We all contribute to the economy. Self-employed isn't a choice for some - PAYE jobs aren't available in many sectors.
Up to £2500 per month of government money available for every PAYE person. Around £80 plus benefits for Self-employed. Not even minimum wage for so many people who have been paying into the system.

Not every self employed person earns enough to save for all that though, DH is unskilled labour, he earns £25k a year max, it doesnt go far.

Up to £2500 per month of government money available for every PAYE person. Around £80 plus benefits for Self-employed. Not even minimum wage for so many people who have been paying into the system

But I'm a snowflake to be pissed off.
And what of those who cannot claim UC as their partner earns too much? (and too much really isn't alot) Their outgoings don't magically go down.
The disparity is outrageous

If you're self employed and think this is fine then you must have a rich partner or family. Otherwise I can't see how losing 90% of your income isn't a big deal.
Those people who are defending the government and saying that this is unprecedented and unforeseen are criticising the self employed for not preparing for a global pandemic!
The problem with what has been announced is that there is such a vast difference in support with no logical explanation. It is unfair. My children need to eat just as much as someone who is on PAYE. I pay tax at the same rate as someone on PAYE. I don't complain about unpaid holidays, sick days etc because I know the score but THIS IS DIFFERENT.

@CuriousaboutSamphire

Where was the 3 month rent and mortgage holiday please?

Does anyone think a Labour government would be handling this better?

You do know that if we had a Labour Govt and they were doing exactly this,everyone would be bleating about how they are ruining the economy?

Anyway, we don't have a Labour Govt so what they would or wouldn't do is both unknowable and completely irrelevant.

Not all self employed can save for 3 - 6 months pandemic.... my DP ensures his tax and NI is up to date. Shouldn't PAYE have to save as well then they should also see this coming .....but why up to £2500 a month for PAYE and SSP at about £480 a month for the self employed. How is that fair?

magicmallow
Pretty sure its 80% of up to £2.5k per month for employees

I am a permanent resident here, but not (yet) a citizen or a person with Indefinite Leave to Remain. I am on a spouse visa and such I am not entitled to any benefits at all.

I have been employed with my current employer ( and paying taxes like the rest of the population ) since September 2019. If I lose my job, do you think I could still be eligible for the 80% of my monthly wage?

Thanks....just really worried ☹️

There is no rent holiday. My landlord has already told me he expects rent in full as normal. My husband's work was just closed. I don't think we can manage. Very worried

@Uppingham my dad is insured for if he gets sick or hurts himself and cannot work.
That insurance doesn't help him now.

He had a v. secure job as a cab driver until the government starting making announcements. Now he has 0 work and whilst employees are sitting at home receiving up to £2000 a month, he'll be at the back of the queue to receive £400 a month.
For both of them in exactly the same situation to have a £1600pm disparity is audacious.

@LouQoo the mortgage payment holiday was announced the other day. Wasn't quite as simple for renters. Just that you couldn't be evicted.

It is really unfair for self-employed people. They're basically just giving them unemployment benefit - if they did that to PAYE workers there'd be carnage.

I think he is excellent. He came across as sincere and reassuring. A future PM for me.