BRADFORD East MP Imran Hussain said "vast swathes of workers" are excluded from the measures outlined by Chancellor Rishi Sunak today. 

The Labour MP has welcomed some measures, but said the Chancellor has "failed to learn the lessons of the first round of support". 

He said: “Whilst there were some welcome measures set out in the Chancellor’s statement today, it is a significant change from the existing furlough scheme that the government are bringing to an end next month, and the delay in announcing them and previously steadfast opposition to extending the scheme to sectors that have been hardest hit has already cost confidence and has already cost jobs across Bradford.

“The statement also made no real mention of retraining opportunities for those who have lost their jobs because of the impact of this crisis and it disappointingly failed to set out any action to tackle or outlaw the unscrupulous practice of ‘firing and rehiring’ which allows employers to drastically reduce the pay, terms and conditions of their staff.

“However, what is most concerning in this statement is that the Chancellor has failed to learn the lessons of the first round of support as he continues to exclude vast swathes of workers, particularly those who are self-employed, from support, and I will continue to press for greater action to protect the jobs, incomes and livelihoods of all working people in Bradford East.”