News

Bectu continues lobbying government on behalf of creative freelancers

21 May 2020

Meetings with Treasury officials and Labour’s shadow culture team have taken place this week as Bectu continues lobbying for financial support for creative freelancers during the pandemic.

Rishi Sunak being interviewed by Laura Kuenssberg for BBC News (Simon Walker, HM Treasury). https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/

Prospect general secretary Mike Clancy and head of Bectu Philippa Childs put forward several solutions in a meeting with Treasury officials involved in the Self-employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) and Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

The meeting was specifically organised for Bectu to feed back continued concerns about creative freelancers who are excluded from the two government income support schemes.

During the meeting the following topics were discussed:

  • Proposed solutions to allow limited company directors access to the SEISS.
  • PAYE freelancers who are still excluded from the CJRS.
  • Concerns about how the CJRS will be used if employers are expected to pay an increased contribution.
  • The need to address concerns about whether the SEISS will be extended.

However, the Treasury did not commit to any action.

The meeting follows on from Labour shadow culture team members Jo Stevens MP and Tracy Brabin MP also lobbying the Treasury on behalf of creative freelancers following discussions with Bectu.

Shadow culture team support

Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sports secretary Jo Stevens wrote to the Chancellor this week on behalf of PAYE freelancers highlighting that many people working in film and TV have no way of accessing support. This is due to the fact that the PAYE element of their income exceeds 50% of their income, so they are excluded from the SEISS or their employer can’t furlough them.

During Treasury questions in Parliament on Monday 18 May shadow cultural industries minister Tracy Brabin asked the Chancellor three questions: “Will the support in the SEISS be extended in line with CRJS support? Are there plans to lift the [£50,000] cap on profits from the SEISS? And will he please look again at supporting new starters?”

The Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, answered only one question and said: “With regards to removing the cap, I don’t think it would be right or the socially just thing to do.”

Leave no creative behind

Head of Bectu Philippa Childs said: “Continued discussions with the Treasury about how to find a way to ensure there is no creative left behind during the pandemic are appreciated.

“We are acutely aware that the entire economy is suffering at the moment; however, the Treasury must recognise that many freelancers in the creative industries have not had access to any support at all since coronavirus spread throughout the country.

“Half of these people are now borrowing money, our latest survey has found, which demonstrates the urgency for solutions to be found as quickly as possible.

“Support from Labour’s shadow culture team is gratefully welcomed and we hope that the government recognises that all voices in this conversation are working towards one goal, that: no creative is left behind.”