Greens demand furlough fairness
Patrick Harvie MSP said:
“Public health policy in Scotland must be driven by what is happening in Scotland, not what is happening in the south of England.
“It’s been clear for some time that the UK Government has nothing to offer Scotland but contempt, but the Prime Minister’s actions over the weekend took this contempt to new levels, showing that he couldn’t care less about workers and businesses here.
“It is scandalous that extending the furlough scheme was left until just a few hours before it was due to end. Huge numbers of people have already lost their jobs as a result of the UK Government’s delay. And there is no certainty that furlough will be available should Scotland need to lockdown in future.
“It is completely unacceptable that people in Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and the north of England were told that support couldn’t be made available, only for furlough to be extended the moment it became clear that Boris Johnson’s constituency would be affected.
“Workers need clarity now that support will be there for as long as they need it. It’s essential that we hear a commitment from government that furlough will be available for as long as the public health situation demands it, in any part of the UK, and that no worker will be paid below the minimum wage.”