As part of the support package in response to COVID-19, the government's position as of 20/03/2020 is that employed people will get 80% of their salary, so an employed person on £25,000 will get £20,000.

Self-employed people are entitled to Universal Credit (and only if they have no savings). If you're over 25 (as a single claimant with no children) that's £317.82 per month + the additional £1,000 promised by the chancellor = £4,813.84 for the year. Yes, that's how much the equivalent self-employed person earning around £25,000 can expect to receive from the bail out.

This is completely unacceptable! The National Mimimum Wage (which was rebranded the National Living Wage for a good reason) is currently £8.21 for those over 25, due to go up to £8.72 from the 1st April. Based on a 40 hour week that's an annual salary of £18,137.60. That is a fair amount for self-employed people to receive.

Self-employed people should be paid the National Living Wage to help them get through this crisis: a wage they can live off! We ask that the chancellor implement this!