🗣”[they] may well become a burden on the welfare state, through no fault of their own but because of short-sighted policy making.” @MartinSLewis tells @TherealNihal about workers who have been excluded from financial aid from the government. Listen on @BBCSounds

📢 #IsItOK to campaign alongside 3.8 million excluded UK taxpayers for over SIX YEARS, promise them justice, then fall silent when you become Prime Minister? @andyburnham, we are still waiting for answers. #IsItOK that another #ExcludedUK member was made homeless last Friday... the fourth house last in the last SIX weeks!!! We thought you were trying to end homelessness?!?!!! For well over six years, Andy Burnham was one of the most vocal and passionate political supporters of #ExcludedUK, campaigning WITH us for the millions of hardworking UK taxpayers who were wholly or partially excluded from meaningful Covid-19 financial support. These included freelancers, the self-employed, small business owners, company directors and thousands of people, including those working in the TV and film industries, many of whom saw their livelihoods disappear overnight. Andy did not simply offer a few words of sympathy. He actively campaigned alongside us, co-hosting several events with Jennifer Griffiths, Head of ExcludedUK, speaking directly to our members, listening to their devastating experiences and repeatedly pledging his support. 🎥 WATCH THE ATTACHED VIDEO In this recording, Andy Burnham promises to pursue financial remedy AND a public apology for those so appallingly let down. He knew the human cost of exclusion. He knew that at least 40 people had taken their own lives, with their deaths reported to ExcludedUK in connection with the devastating consequences of being denied support. He has described the exclusion as "indefensible" and said a solution was "fair, proportionate and doable". Yet since becoming Prime Minister, the man who stood beside us for well over six years appears to have fallen silent. 📩 Our emails and messages to Andy Burnham have gone unanswered. 📩 Our correspondence to Chancellor @JohnHealey_MP has also failed to secure the answers and action we have been seeking. 💔 Families are still grieving. Lives and livelihoods remain shattered. People are still living with the financial and psychological consequences of decisions made more than six years ago. Attemtped suicides are still a regular occurence! Not even the promised apology has materialised. 💥 An apology costs NOTHING! No Treasury funding. No Budget allocation. No complicated financial calculations. An apology is FREE, and that is something we can ALL afford! So, Andy, we ask you: ❓ #IsItOK to promise hope to millions of people and then leave them waiting when you finally have the power to deliver? ❓ #IsItOK to acknowledge the devastating human cost of exclusion but still fail to provide even a public apology? ❓ #IsItOK for those who dutifully paid into the system, but were deliberately left out, to still be fighting for justice more than SIX YEARS later? Andy, you stood with us when you were campaigning. We need you to stand with us now that you are in power. 3.8 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. We are not going away. #ExcludedUK #IsItOK #TheLastLeg #AndyBurnham #JohnHealey #Channel4 #AdamHills #JoshWiddicombe #AlexBrooker #TVandFilm #Freelancers #SelfEmployed #Covid19 #CovidSupport #ExcludedFighter #WeAreNotGoingAway #Relentless

3.8 million self-employed UK taxpayers were excluded from financial support during Covid, leaving many facing bankruptcy. I asked the Treasury to meet with me and discuss addressing the unfairness faced by so many in the pandemic. @ExcludedUK @MaternityAction @PregnantScrewed

"Have you got the provisions to keep going?" Angela Rayner, Secretary of State for Housing, asks the UK public amid worries about stockpiling. Rayner added that the proposals from Andy Burnham are "sensible" and "individually" the public should prepare in case of an emergency.

📢 #IsItOK to campaign alongside 3.8 million excluded UK taxpayers for over SIX YEARS, promise them justice, then fall silent when you become Prime Minister? @andyburnham, we are still waiting for answers. #IsItOK that another #ExcludedUK member was made homeless last Friday... the fourth house last in the last SIX weeks!!! We thought you were trying to end homelessness?!?!!! For well over six years, Andy Burnham was one of the most vocal and passionate political supporters of #ExcludedUK, campaigning WITH us for the millions of hardworking UK taxpayers who were wholly or partially excluded from meaningful Covid-19 financial support. These included freelancers, the self-employed, small business owners, company directors and thousands of people, including those working in the TV and film industries, many of whom saw their livelihoods disappear overnight. Andy did not simply offer a few words of sympathy. He actively campaigned alongside us, co-hosting several events with Jennifer Griffiths, Head of ExcludedUK, speaking directly to our members, listening to their devastating experiences and repeatedly pledging his support. 🎥 WATCH THE ATTACHED VIDEO In this recording, Andy Burnham promises to pursue financial remedy AND a public apology for those so appallingly let down. He knew the human cost of exclusion. He knew that at least 40 people had taken their own lives, with their deaths reported to ExcludedUK in connection with the devastating consequences of being denied support. He has described the exclusion as "indefensible" and said a solution was "fair, proportionate and doable". Yet since becoming Prime Minister, the man who stood beside us for well over six years appears to have fallen silent. 📩 Our emails and messages to Andy Burnham have gone unanswered. 📩 Our correspondence to Chancellor @JohnHealey_MP has also failed to secure the answers and action we have been seeking. 💔 Families are still grieving. Lives and livelihoods remain shattered. People are still living with the financial and psychological consequences of decisions made more than six years ago. Attemtped suicides are still a regular occurence! Not even the promised apology has materialised. 💥 An apology costs NOTHING! No Treasury funding. No Budget allocation. No complicated financial calculations. An apology is FREE, and that is something we can ALL afford! So, Andy, we ask you: ❓ #IsItOK to promise hope to millions of people and then leave them waiting when you finally have the power to deliver? ❓ #IsItOK to acknowledge the devastating human cost of exclusion but still fail to provide even a public apology? ❓ #IsItOK for those who dutifully paid into the system, but were deliberately left out, to still be fighting for justice more than SIX YEARS later? Andy, you stood with us when you were campaigning. We need you to stand with us now that you are in power. 3.8 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. We are not going away. #ExcludedUK #IsItOK #TheLastLeg #AndyBurnham #JohnHealey #Channel4 #AdamHills #JoshWiddicombe #AlexBrooker #TVandFilm #Freelancers #SelfEmployed #Covid19 #CovidSupport #ExcludedFighter #WeAreNotGoingAway #Relentless

📢 #IsItOK to campaign alongside 3.8 million excluded UK taxpayers for over SIX YEARS, promise them justice, then fall silent when you become Prime Minister? @andyburnham, we are still waiting for answers. #IsItOK that another #ExcludedUK member was made homeless last Friday... the fourth house last in the last SIX weeks!!! We thought you were trying to end homelessness?!?!!! For well over six years, Andy Burnham was one of the most vocal and passionate political supporters of #ExcludedUK, campaigning WITH us for the millions of hardworking UK taxpayers who were wholly or partially excluded from meaningful Covid-19 financial support. These included freelancers, the self-employed, small business owners, company directors and thousands of people, including those working in the TV and film industries, many of whom saw their livelihoods disappear overnight. Andy did not simply offer a few words of sympathy. He actively campaigned alongside us, co-hosting several events with Jennifer Griffiths, Head of ExcludedUK, speaking directly to our members, listening to their devastating experiences and repeatedly pledging his support. 🎥 WATCH THE ATTACHED VIDEO In this recording, Andy Burnham promises to pursue financial remedy AND a public apology for those so appallingly let down. He knew the human cost of exclusion. He knew that at least 40 people had taken their own lives, with their deaths reported to ExcludedUK in connection with the devastating consequences of being denied support. He has described the exclusion as "indefensible" and said a solution was "fair, proportionate and doable". Yet since becoming Prime Minister, the man who stood beside us for well over six years appears to have fallen silent. 📩 Our emails and messages to Andy Burnham have gone unanswered. 📩 Our correspondence to Chancellor @JohnHealey_MP has also failed to secure the answers and action we have been seeking. 💔 Families are still grieving. Lives and livelihoods remain shattered. People are still living with the financial and psychological consequences of decisions made more than six years ago. Attemtped suicides are still a regular occurence! Not even the promised apology has materialised. 💥 An apology costs NOTHING! No Treasury funding. No Budget allocation. No complicated financial calculations. An apology is FREE, and that is something we can ALL afford! So, Andy, we ask you: ❓ #IsItOK to promise hope to millions of people and then leave them waiting when you finally have the power to deliver? ❓ #IsItOK to acknowledge the devastating human cost of exclusion but still fail to provide even a public apology? ❓ #IsItOK for those who dutifully paid into the system, but were deliberately left out, to still be fighting for justice more than SIX YEARS later? Andy, you stood with us when you were campaigning. We need you to stand with us now that you are in power. 3.8 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE NOT FORGOTTEN. We are not going away. #ExcludedUK #IsItOK #TheLastLeg #AndyBurnham #JohnHealey #Channel4 #AdamHills #JoshWiddicombe #AlexBrooker #TVandFilm #Freelancers #SelfEmployed #Covid19 #CovidSupport #ExcludedFighter #WeAreNotGoingAway #Relentless

Please do not continue the wall of silence we have become used to from the last @UKLabour PM... we thought you were better than that @andyburnham!! Please contact, Jennifer Griffiths, Head of ExcludedUK to arrange a meeting to look at the way forward... just cast your eye over this video to remind yourself of what you said to her on the livestream you co-hosted with her on 24th June 2024.... an apology is FREE... you promised it... you can afford it...FREE is the right price to vindicate the +40 individuals who saw no othre option but to take their own lives! @andyburnham or @JohnHealey_MP are welcome to make contact.... [email protected] DID YOU GET LITTLE OR NO FINANCIAL SUPPORT DURING COVID? Were you excluded from fair and equal Covid-19 financial support? If so, join some of the other 3.8 million UK taxpayers who were, as we campaign for this scandal to be put right.. bit.ly/3UunLTY Dutifully paid in, deliberately left out! Lives & livelihoods ruined! 37+ suicides and hundreds of attempted suicides! Website: excludeduk.org Facebook Group: bit.ly/3UunLTY Sign up to our mailing list: bit.ly/4bdpB0U Sign our petition: petition.parliament.uk/petit… There are over 20 categories of exclusions including: ·New starters ·New Businesses ·PAYE freelancers ·Newly self-employed ·Those denied furlough ·Directors paid in Dividends ·Directors paid PAYE Annually ·Made redundant before 19 Mar 2020 ·Directors of Companies not in Profit ·Self-employed with +£50k trading profits ·Businesses ineligible for Business Grants ·Those in maternity/parental/adoption leave ·Those earning less than 50% income from self-employment ·Those whose personal circumstances have affected entitlement to support e.g. pensions, bereavement allowance, carer’s allowance, students, armed forces veterans… and more… ExcludedUK are asking for: (1) An apology from government so this injustice is recognised and assurance that it will never happen again. (2) Parity of support (3) Acknowledgement of loss of earnings/profit and consequential loss. #ExcludedUK @ExcludedFighter @SadieMHarris @JohnMartinComic @inkbyboston @harrisonmaxwell @NickFerrariLBC @ITVX @PA @ExcludedUK @andyburnham @JohnHealey_MP @downingstreet @switherdenMP @MP4Stratford @AlPinkerton @gregsmith_uk @RichardNewby3 @ExcludedFighter @SadieMHarris @APPGGapsSupport @UKLabour @LibDems @Conservatives @theSNP @reformparty_uk @thisisyourparty @Plaid_Cymru @TheGreenParty @thatginamiller @MartinSLewis @JohnDCaudwell @itvnews @GMB @GBNEWS @BigIssue @LBC @itvnews @BBCNews @PA @AP @BBCBreakfast

👇 Highlights from the #ExcludedUK Pre Budget Event on Wednesday. Mr Sunak must surely be able to spare the two minutes to listen. The Chancellor would be doing the country a complete disservice if he ignores those left behind on March 3rd. It's time to bring us in from the cold.

🚨EXCLUDEDUK... ON THE MAP!!!🚨 A quick media heads-up for Wednesday 28 October, Budget Day. ExcludedUK has booked a digital video and audio advertising van which will be driving around Parliament Square and Westminster from 9am to 5pm, broadcasting campaign material throughout the day. The van will feature: • video clips of Andy Burnham speaking publicly about ExcludedUK and the injustice faced by those excluded from meaningful Covid-19 financial support • testimony from ExcludedUK members about the continuing financial, personal and mental health consequences of exclusion • ExcludedUK campaign messaging and calls for recognition, accountability and redress Our most prolific campaigner, Tim Pravda, also known as @ExcludedFighter, will be around Parliament Square throughout the day, together with other ExcludedUK members, and will be available to speak to journalists and broadcasters. So, if you or any of your colleagues are in Westminster covering the Budget, please keep an eye out for the van and for Tim and our members. We would be very grateful if you could also flag this with your political, Westminster, economics or newsdesk colleagues. After more than six years, the 3.8 million taxpayers who were excluded from meaningful Covid-19 financial support are still campaigning to be heard. If you would like interviews, background information, member case studies, video footage or briefing material in advance, please contact me. Jennifer Griffiths Head of ExcludedUK Secretariat Secretary, Gaps in Covid-19 Financial Support APPG 📧 [email protected] 🌐 excludeduk.org Dutifully paid in. Deliberately left out. @BBC @BBCNews @BBCBreaking @BBCPolitics @BBCWorld @BBCR1 @BBCRadio2 @BBCRadio3 @BBCr4today @bbc5live @bbclookeast @bbclondonnews @BBCScotland @bbcwalesnews @BBCnireland @ITV @itvnews @itvanglia @itvcentral @itvmeridian @granadatv @itvtynetees @sky @SkyNews @SkyNewsBiz @Channel4 @Channel4News @E4Tweets @More4 @channel5_tv @5_News @GBNEWS @TalkTV @LBC @TimesRadio @talkSPORT @VirginRadioUK @ClassicFM @thisisheart @CapitalOfficial @KissFMUK @magicfm @guardian @thetimes @Telegraph @FT @mailonline @Independent @DailyMirror

Many self-employed constituents have contacted me to share their experiences of missing out on support during the #coronavirus pandemic. SEISS must be extended and expanded to protect livelihoods and plug gaps in support. @ExcludedUK

🚨 IT’S FINALLY LIVE! PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE OUR EXCLUDEDUK PETITION 🚨 After waiting for it to be approved and published, I can finally say it: My Parliamentary petition calling for financial redress for the 3.8 million taxpayers excluded from Covid-19 financial support is now LIVE!!! ✍️ PLEASE SIGN IT HERE: petition.parliament.uk/petit… The petition calls on the Government to: “Establish a fair financial redress scheme for the 3.8 million taxpayers excluded from Covid-19 financial support, reflecting the support received by comparable taxpayers and businesses.” For more than six years, millions of people who dutifully paid into the system have been fighting to be heard. Newly self-employed people. Company directors. Freelancers. New starters. Those denied furlough. PAYE freelancers. People earning over the SEISS threshold. Those affected by maternity, pensions and other circumstances. People lost income, businesses, homes and financial security while others in comparable circumstances received substantial Government support. The consequences did not simply disappear when lockdown ended. This petition is our opportunity to show Parliament that the excluded have NOT gone away. 📣 WE NEED 10,000 SIGNATURES for a Government response. 📣 WE NEED 100,000 SIGNATURES for the petition to be considered for debate in Parliament. So please do three things: ✅ SIGN IT ✅ SHARE IT ✅ Ask everyone you know to sign and share it too Please share it on Facebook, LinkedIn, X, WhatsApp, email and anywhere else you can. Tag your MP. Tag journalists. Tag broadcasters. Tag anyone who supported the excluded. We need to get this in front of as many people as possible. After six years of campaigning, we are still here. We are still fighting. And we will continue until the 3.8 million excluded taxpayers finally receive the recognition, justice and financial redress they deserve. Dutifully paid in. Deliberately left out. 👉 petition.parliament.uk/petit… #ExcludedUK #ExcludedUKPetition #FinancialRedress #CovidSupport #3Point8Million #DutifullyPaidInDeliberatelyLeftOut @RichardNewby3 @switherdenMP @MP4Stratford @AlPinkerton @gregsmith_uk @SadieMHarris @ExcludedFighter @JohnMartinComic @Euan4Falkirk @iqbalmohamedMP @JakeBenRichards @KimJohnsonMP @BeaversLorraine @OllyGloverLD @PaulKohlerSW19 @RebeccaHarrisMP @RosieDuffield1 @RupaHuq @SorchaEastwood @StephenGethins @SteveDarlingMP @timfarron @VikkiSlade72 @WillForster @ZoeFranklinLD @APPGGapsSupport @UKLabour @LibDems @Conservatives @theSNP @reformparty_uk @thisisyourparty @Plaid_Cymru @TheGreenParty @thatginamiller @MartinSLewis @JohnDCaudwell @itvnews @GMB @GBNEWS @BigIssue @LBC @itvnews @BBCNews @PA @AP @BBCBreakfast

"Eight people in ten days" have taken their own lives due to lack of government support, says the SNP's Ian Blackford, "these people need help" "We're investing massively in mental health support across the country," replies Boris Johnson #PMQs bbc.in/3g0Fqfn

OPEN LETTER SENT TO THE CHANCELLOR TODAY Yesterday Chancellor Rt Hon John Healey, wrote to me regarding his speech at the Labour Party Conference and how he is working to make Britain hope again. Today, in my roles as Head of ExcludedUK and Secretariat Secretary of the Gaps in Covid-19 Financial Support APPG, I have sent an open letter to the Chancellor. excludeduk.org/2026/09/29/op… The message is simple: The 3.8 million taxpayers excluded from meaningful Covid-19 financial support have waited long enough. I explained that Prime Minister Andy Burnham has supported our campaign for more than six years, describing the injustice faced by the excluded as “indefensible” and saying that any solution should be “fair, proportionate and doable.” Now we need those words to become action. I have asked the Chancellor to sit down with us. To listen to the bereaved. To listen to those still repaying pandemic debt. To listen to those whose businesses, homes and mental health were devastated. And to work with us on what recognition, accountability and fair financial redress should now look like. As the Chancellor’s own message said: “HOPE ISN’T SOMETHING WE WAIT FOR. IT’S SOMETHING WE BUILD.” The excluded have already waited more than six years. It is time to build that hope for them too. The APPG will be meeting next month to decide how to progress with our campaign, but none of us can do too much to ramp this pressure up to ensure we get the commitment that Andy Burnham has promised us for well over 6 years. Below is the open letter in full. Please forward a copy to your MP and local media. Ask your MP to join our APPG, which they can do by emailing [email protected] to register. Many thanks Jennifer Dutifully paid in. Deliberately left out. @andyburnham @John_Healey_MP @downingstreet @switherdenMP @MP4Stratford @AlPinkerton @gregsmith_uk @RichardNewby3 @ExcludedFighter @SadieMHarris @APPGGapsSupport @UKLabour @LibDems @Conservatives @theSNP @reformparty_uk @thisisyourparty @Plaid_Cymru @TheGreenParty @thatginamiller @MartinSLewis @JohnDCaudwell @itvnews @GMB @GBNEWS @BigIssue @LBC @itvnews @BBCNews @PA @AP @BBCBreakfast #ExcludedUK #Excluded #Covid19 #APPG #PMQs #FinancialRedress #BounceBackLoans #MentalHealth #justicefortheexcluded