Helen Hayes has hit out at chancellor Rishi Sunak’s after he described the many industries shut down or operating at reduced capacity as ‘unviable’.
Describing the wedding, events, exhibitions and worst-affected sections of the night time economy as being left on ‘Sunak’s scrapheap’, the Dulwich and West Norwood MP said: “It is shameful that Rishi Sunak has left them without the support they need when they are taking the right actions to save lives.
“Branding industries which cannot reopen at the current time as ‘unviable’ will lead to the loss of hundreds of jobs across my constituency, causing untold hardship and anxiety and pushing many families into poverty.
“The government must urgently rethink its approach and provide the targeted support needed to save good jobs at the heart of our community and hundreds more across the rest of Southwark.”
In her constituency alone, according to the Office for National Statistics, there are around 700 employed in pubs and bars and 30 in nightclubs, over 200 in the events and conference industry, and dozens of people working in sports clubs.
In London, without further support, more than 28,000 jobs could be at risk, says Hayes.