COVID-19

And even then, he's an idiot. He's only rich because his dad left him a massive pile. All he knows is how to bully.

 

I didn't listen, but have read quotes of that interview. He apparently had absolutely no idea what was or wasn't an emergency, and couldn't handle different scenarios - is that basically it in a nutshell?

The government is being readily out-thought on the basics by simple journalism.

The mixed messages continue.

 

For all your favourite Trump claims about Coronavirus:

https://edition.cnn.com/2020/03/22/politics/fact-check-trump-coronavirus-false-claims-march/index.html?fbclid=IwAR3WjLBEQ2lA8C6BaaNsukk0fCQ3N7LVsxWa29j2gzJj-ZtZC8w_BThtWwU

There's some belters here!

 

This pandemic is destroying Britain's self-employed, but they're being ignored

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/24/pandemic-britains-self-employed-ignored?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Copy_to_clipboard

 

A one eyed article if ever l read one, and really, The Guardian understands the small businessman, funny as owt!

Too many self employed will be under declaring, now putting them in a pickle.... many others will have wildly fluctuating seasonal income, others (like l was) are a bit sketchy with paperwork. To fund these people, correctly & honestly, right now, is an impossible task. I am sure steps will be taken soon and help will arrive much more quickly than it would under the other self employed's friend, The Labour Party!

 

Who's figures are closer to the UK's % death rate? Easy winner.

And that is deaths from confirmed cases, by the end we maybe looking at a death rate far, far lower.

 

You misunderstood me, he is right to be off, but a 3 month sick note from a phone call was my "wow".

 

No one's denying it's difficult. And no one can possibly know how this would have been handled under Labour.
But something needs to be done quickly to prevent real hardship and incentivise more people to stay at home.
As the Times (not the Guardian) editorial said yesterday, if Johnson hadn't spent all of February fighting needless battles with the judiciary, civil service and BBC and buggering off for a week's jolly in the countryside, then he could have spent more time working out how to deal with all aspects of this crisis. It was clearly on its way to us, but he failed to prepare at the opportune time and now we're playing catch-up as a result

 

You can't help yourself, it's not about the self employed for you, it's a political issue = don't like the nasty party, we got it long ago.

It's not straightforward, you've got a leak, you need a plumber, lights gone out, you need a sparkle, ridge tile off, you need a roofer. All these things are essential.

 

I'm unsure as to why they cannot look at last years taxes for the self-employed and work out a payment scheme for individual people. Of course, there will be circumstances where things have changed. But the above should work for the majority of people and at least get them something ASAP. I hold no grudge to a man doing a couple of jobs for cash in hand. But if you have lied about 1000's of pounds then that is your own fault.

 

it is probably because he doesn’t think your/their job can be done whilst keeping 2 metres distance between each other. Not sure what you do but I know a lot of people with asthma that have been given 12 week note who are it the at risk/vulnerable groups as their Dr don’t think they can follow the social distancing rules

 

would you do the 80% of any salary they took or dividends they took?

 

I understand they are looking at an average declared earnings figure over the last 3 years now with a cap

 

Further to my post above. I misheard on tv about self employed. That appears to be what they are doing in Norway.

Apologies for posting incorrect information for the self employed

 

So while this poor government hasn't even sorted out the self employed or looked after the employed or people saying at home.

Trump in the US has agreed a 2 Trillion bail out ( no I am not a Trump fan but it highlights how slow Boris is being and to looking after all of the UK public)

The measures: The bill will deliver a "one-time stipend of about $1,200 per individual, $2,400 for couples, and $3,000 for family of four," per AP, which notes higher income levels will not receive the boost. Per AP and a letter from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer to Democratic senators, other key provisions are for:

• Small business: $367 billion to keep making payroll while workers have to stay home. "Companies with 500 or fewer employees could tap up to $10 million each in forgivable small business loans to keep paychecks flowing," AP notes.

"The program would provide 8 weeks of assistance through federally-guaranteed loans qualifying employers who maintain payroll; if they do, other costs like mortgage interest, rent, and utilities would be forgiven."

• Unemployment benefits: $600 per week added to normal state benefits for up to four months with an extra 13 weeks of benefits — adding to 39 weeks of regular unemployment insurance "through the end of 2020 if they are sidelined by the outbreak," per AP. The coverage would be effective Jan. 27.
• In what Axios' Kia Kokalitcheva notes is "unprecedented," the deal extends to groups including gig economy workers.
• Health care and social services: $242 billion "in additional emergency appropriations to fight the virus and shore up for safety net programs," AP reports. It'll fund public health providers including hospitals, the CDC, child nutrition, hospitals, the food stamps program ($15.6 billion more) and transportation agencies.
• Industry: The final number for big businesses like airlines and provisions against potential employer abuses are still subject to negotiations. But Republicans are seeking $500 billion in loans.
• The bill delays employers' payroll tax payments. "They would would be able to defer payment of their 2020 payroll taxes until 2021 and 2022," per AP.
• States: Negotiations are continuing, but Democrats and governors are seeking $150 billion in assistance.

 

Also the 80% of the 2.5k doesn't seem to be working in this country.

Many companies seem to using it for some staff then telling others to take pay cuts.

 

Sorry, but that's simply not true. I have relatives and friends who are self employed. My cousin is a self employed builder with multiple health problems who really shouldn't be working but still is, because he has no other source of income.

Much of my social life is based around music - going to gigs, attending festivals, learning from pro musicians etc. Many of these people are in despair - all gigs cancelled, no money coming in, organisers of festivals left with cancelled events but still with expenses incurred etc. They are in no sense essential workers but they have to eat, pay rent etc.

Of course it's not straightforward. Which is why the government should have put far more time, energy and thought into preparing for this in February, when it was obvious that it was on its way, instead of pissing about with their ideological preoccupations.

No one is saying that plumbers, roofers etc shouldn't be available for emergency situations. Of course that's necessary. I had a plumbing emergency last week that would have led to a flood and was very grateful for an emergency plumber who fixed it. What I, and many others are saying, is that self employed people should be given a guaranteed minimum income to get them through the crisis, so that only those who absolutely have to be moving around, potentially catching and spreading the virus, are doing so.
It's not about politics at the moment, it's about what needs to be done.

 

Exactly. Never mind what people's normal earnings are. These are not normal times. They should settle on a standard figure and give it to all self employed people. Some may get paid more than they normally earn; others a lot less. Too bad. It's temporary. At least everyone can eat and pay their bills through the crisis.

 

Oh and the newly unemployed are struggling to claim money.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-52028644

Far too many holes in the government offerings.