JULIE ELLIOTT: Without targeted government investment it will be a rocky road out of this crisis

Whilst many may have had their jobs protected, whether that’s through the government furlough scheme or through the series of loans and grants that have been set up, there are far too many people who have fallen through the gaps.

The Government’s extension to the furlough scheme is undoubtedly welcome, and I would encourage as many businesses to access the scheme as possible to save money and to try to protect jobs for the future. But the Government’s spending plans need to go much further, and there is still evidence of businesses refusing to make use of the scheme, putting their employee’s jobs at risk.

The employment and claimant figures published earlier this week tell us that benefit claimant count is up, and whilst this is yet to have an effect on the employment figures, the next quarter of employment statistics is likely to provide a key indication to the economic damage that this crisis has caused.

That’s why as a party we are calling for government action to keep people in work, to get cash to struggling businesses and to prevent additional poverty caused by a failing social security system.

Without a long term exit plan from this crisis, it is going to be impossible for businesses to plan ahead and for the economy to get going again. We are not calling for an exit plan to speed the situation up, but to ensure that there is accountability, and that there is an approach to recovery that leaves no-one behind, and takes into account the safety of employees and services users alike.

We have seen the effect that long term unemployment has on communities, and we have seen the damaging effect that recession and austerity has on our vital services. Without targeted government investment that looks to the future as well as the present, it will be a long, rocky road out of this crisis. We can and must do better.