The government should create a Temporary Income Protection Fund to support freelancers through the Coronavirus crisis. The idea is for a time-limited, targeted injection of funds to keep businesses afloat over the coming months and cover basic income costs like food and rent.

Coronavirus is not only a health crisis, but an economic crisis too, and one that is likely to hit the smallest businesses - the self-employed - hardest. Freelancers will not just lose income while they are ill or self-isolating: many are also losing work and contracts over the coming months. The Budget measures give some support, but not enough. There is also a risk that the Business Interruption Loans will leave many freelancers with a mountain of debt. They urgently need more support.

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