Thousands of freelancers and self-employed people across Lewisham East are rightly concerned about how they are going to meet the basic costs of living for the foreseeable future. The government needs to act fast with immediate measures to reassure the millions across the country that they will not be forgotten.

On 22 March, I joined colleagues in writing to the Chancellor, urging him to include self-employed people and freelancers for income support through the job’s retention scheme.

I have also recently signed the Early Day Motion tabled by Kevin Brennan MP which has called on the government to introduce a temporary universal basic income or an emergency measure to help freelancers and the self-employed effected by the covid-19 outbreak.

I will continue to urge the government to support our freelancers and self-employed people.