Lib Dem MP states “Millions were excluded from support during the pandemic”

MPs this week warned that millions were locked out of Covid-19 financial support because of flawed government schemes, as Liberal Democrat MP for Ely and East Cambridgeshire, Charlotte Cane, called for urgent reforms to ensure future emergency support leaves no one behind.

Evidence from HMRC, the NAO and the Standard Life Foundation showed that around 3.8 million taxpayers were left without meaningful Covid support, with many still feeling the impact today. Those who were excluded included freelancers, small company directors, new starters, people combining PAYE and self-employment, and those affected by parental leave, redundancy or bereavement.

Speaking after the debate, Charlotte Cane MP said:

“The debate made clear that, for many people, the impact of the pandemic is still being felt years on.

“Families are still living with debt built up during that period, livelihoods were lost, and some businesses never recovered. The personal accounts we heard were deeply troubling and underline the human cost of policy decisions made at speed. Millions were excluded from support during the pandemic, we simply can’t let this happen again.

“We have seen how failures in past emergency support exposed deep flaws in the system. The Lib Dems are determined to push for reform, so that future schemes are fairer, more flexible and resilient, and so that no one is left without support when the next crisis hits.”