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What did Rishi mean when he said they can't protect all households?

236 replies

TopBitchoftheWitches · 14/04/2020 18:07

Doesn't sound good imo.

OP posts:
MarshaBradyo · 15/04/2020 10:26

Taking the window cleaner many would rethink getting this done anyway when their own income is more uncertain. If he’s self employed which he probably is, it’s good he has access to the help which he’d probably need anyway.

If he’s employed a drop in demand for the company may have seen him out.

Furloughing is expensive but it helps many non essential workers stay in business.

user1471439240 · 15/04/2020 10:30

Ultimately, as people become comfortable suckling on the teat, it is difficult to wean them off it.

fascinated · 15/04/2020 10:33

I’m not going to argue about semantics.

fascinated · 15/04/2020 10:33

I’m confused why window cleaning for example should stop.

MarshaBradyo · 15/04/2020 10:35

There’s many criticising the govt approach re furlough but it’s a bit backward thinking because without it far far more people would be critical because they would be unemployed.

Businesses would respond to cash shortage more immediately without it as an option. They don’t hang around being nicer if demand is low.

It’ll end after the 12 weeks and it’ll be interesting to see what happens.

tontie · 15/04/2020 10:36

@nighttimefreedom
The previous poster said younger generations
"have got used to a life without any hardship whatsoever." that's what I disagreed with. Plenty of young people in the UK live in hardship now.

I'm shocked that people are shocked that the gov can't fund everyone & every business. How could that ever be possible?

GoodStuffAnnie · 15/04/2020 10:42

It’s not just not going to work that’s the problem. Companies and people have just stopped spending.

Kazzyhoward · 15/04/2020 10:42

It’ll end after the 12 weeks and it’ll be interesting to see what happens.

It will continue but greatly restricted to those workers who can't work due to shielding (the highest risk group), and those employers who still aren't allowed to trade (such as pubs, restaurants, sporting/music gatherings etc).

For everyone else and all other employers, it'll have to be back to work as usual (or as near as possible with whatever social distancing remains in place) or closure/redundancies for those employers that can't manage without Govt support.

GoodStuffAnnie · 15/04/2020 10:42

People are literally redundant. There is nothing for them to do.

GoodStuffAnnie · 15/04/2020 10:43

There are risks of course but I think tradespeople should be one of first groups to go back. Not commuting. Normally work in ones and twos. Can avoid people.

MarshaBradyo · 15/04/2020 10:44

It’s not just not going to work that’s the problem. Companies and people have just stopped spending
Yep

I think it will stop after 12 weeks for everyone. But we’ll see.

Kazzyhoward · 15/04/2020 10:47

I’m confused why window cleaning for example should stop.

In theory it shouldn't, but if people decide they can't afford discretionary spending like that, or a furloughed worker decides to do it themselves, then the demand will plummet and it simply won't be viable on vastly reduced customer numbers.

My neighbour used to have a gardener - when she went on furlough, she decided to cut the cost and went out to buy her own lawn mower so she's now doing it herself and surprised herself by loving it! She won't be getting the gardener back even when she's back at work.

So much will have changed for so many people once this is over. Small businesses need to think long and hard about their business after this is all over. The govt support is a short term crutch, but they need to be seriously thinking about marketing, changing their business plan, etc as times are going to be very tough when the govt funding stops!

EffieIsATrinket · 15/04/2020 10:48

Would love to have tradesman available.

Have a blocked toilet in downstairs loo - need the driveway dug up to sort it. We have another toilet so can't justify getting it done at the moment even if I could. However we have nothing else to spend our money on, it's an outdoor job so SD would be at least possible for the workers and we are at home a lot more than usual so would be a good time not to be using driveway.

Plus when we open up there will probably be a queue of people with jobs needing done.

IndieTara · 15/04/2020 10:53

It's impossible to cover all households and all scenarios unfortunately.
I've just been made redundant. A single parent with no second income to fall back on. Plus I live in an expensive area and rent. I expected my employer to furlough me but they haven't.

SouthsideOwl · 15/04/2020 10:54

It will be the same people wailing to the FB walls about stay the fuck home who will be gobsmacked that there is no financial help after X amount of time.

We've all had a shock, and the whole situation is terrible. But the fact remains that this virus seriously and lethally affects a small number of people. We cannot continue to literally endanger our whole lives for them. We can deal with it as it comes with treatments, but life has to go on, and soon.

Kazzyhoward · 15/04/2020 10:55

People are literally redundant. There is nothing for them to do.

That's because everything has shut down, many unnecessarily. It was a massive knee jerk reaction. Because shops, pubs and cafes have shut, the usual trade suppliers, wholesalers, etc have no customers, so they've shut down too! Because builders merchants and DIY shops have shut, tradesmen can't work. Because garages have shut, the car part suppliers have shut. We need a "big bang" to get things moving again, i.e. some big announcement instructing such firms to re-open (along with support/furlough being stopped). If it's a gradual thing, it'll never happen because it will be chicken & egg - your pie shop can't open because the pie manufacturer isn't open and they won't open until lots of pie shops are open etc.

Luckily, a few suppliers have used their initiative. In our town, we had a big fruit/veg merchants who were "trade only" and delivered only to restaurants, takeaways, etc. Their customer base obviously died overnight, so rather than sitting on their backsides relying on the furlough and grants, they've moved their entire business model to home deliveries and are now doing fruit/veg deliveries to households via a hastily created website. Their owners were saying they may never go back to the "trade" customers ever, as they're doing a roaring trade with home deliveries.

True entreprenneurs are doing very well at the moment as it's in their nature to think outside the box and look for new opportunities. There'll be a lot of people who are hit badly when the govt support ends - those who've just lazily assumed things will start again where they left off.

userxx · 15/04/2020 11:00

@Kazzyhoward Yep, brain fade. It dosent need to be repaid but its taxable.

My head is far too full of this shite at the moment!!!

Nighttimefreedom · 15/04/2020 11:05

@tontie they do, I agree.

BeijingBikini · 15/04/2020 11:07

So people may lose their homes?

Technically people with mortgages don't own their home - the bank does. They own a debt backed by a home. Having debt is always a risk, there is always the chance your income will stop and you will have to rely on savings or default on debt. I realise this is through no fault of anyone but it's just one of the risks you take when you have a mortgage.

I am quite relieved our house purchase is paused now!

TheCountessatHotelCortez · 15/04/2020 11:10

I think a lot if people had no choice especially those on building sites! The day after lockdown was announced there were posters in here saying that they thought it was ridiculous some building sites were still open and who should they contact to get it closed down, so is it any surprise really??

Viviennemary · 15/04/2020 11:11

I think a lot of workplaces are taking advantage of this scheme. All money should be paid back from profits.

tontie · 15/04/2020 11:12

Thanks @nighttimefreedom

Bluntness100 · 15/04/2020 11:24

I also think there has been an element who have taken advantage of the scheme, both employers and employees, I’m not sure I agree they should pay it back. For the reason that many were in genuine need and it’s impossible to tell which are which.

There is no doubt though many have shut down or stopped working when they should not have done, and still had the work available, but just put their hands out instead.

thetoddleratemyhomework · 15/04/2020 11:30

@goshdarnitjanet

Totally agree - to be honest, I think that the public shaming and overreaction has actually meant that the government has decided that they will let people decide not to work for a few weeks to try to flatten the curve more than they had modelled and then try to announce that people can and should go back to work in non essential sectors. But when they announce it, there will be people on the BBC doing the "sad face" stuff and saying that the government is risking people's lives.

The government is also in a tight spot with the devolved administrations. I think it is clear that people CAN and should continue to work in construction etc, but the Scottish government is clearly taking a more hardline view that is closer to what Italy are doing. If the government says "ignore it, go to work", there will be a row with the Scottish and Welsh governments AND there will be lots of people queuing up to say "those tories only care about the economy, lives are being lost", as if having a functioning government economy doesn't preserve life.

MarshaBradyo · 15/04/2020 11:36

Bluntness which kind of companies are you thinking of? Eg sector

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