Thread by @blackfordian1

I've written to @RishiSunak calling for an urgent cross-party meeting to discuss the financial measures that are still needed for self-employed and unemployed people - to ensure everyone has a guaranteed income and no one is left behind #selfemployed #Coronavirus

The SNP has welcomed the important measures that have been introduced so far - but it is vital that a financial package is introduced specifically for the millions of self-employed and unemployed people who also need support in this unprecedented emergency #Coronavirus

Its my view the UK govt should use the tax & welfare system to provide a guaranteed income for everyone, including self-employed & unemployed people - putting money in people's pockets through a Universal Basic Income, reverse National Insurance, or similar mechanism #Coronavirus

The UK government should also look at including self-employed people in the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme - providing the same support for self-employed people as already announced for others #Coronavirus

The UK's Statutory Sick Pay rates should also be increased to the EU national average - and we must ensure that all self-employed people, and those under the earnings threshold, are covered #Coronavirus

Finally, we should strengthen welfare protections by increasing Child Benefit and making Universal Credit more flexible - e.g. immediate upfront payments, extended backdating, removing capital tariff reduction, and providing a hardship payment for the self-employed #Coronavirus

There will no doubt be many other ideas for how we can help self-employed and unemployed people through this crisis, which is why it's important political parties urgently get round the table so a comprehensive package can be introduced asap #Coronavirus