BORIS Johnson has dismissed demands to adopt a three-pronged approach to the UK’s economic recovery.
The Prime Minister was pressed by the SNP to extend furlough and extra benefit payments beyond September. He was also urged to ban “fire and rehire” practices among businesses.
It came after the Tory leader confirmed his government would launch a full public inquiry into the handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
SNP deputy Westminster leader Kirsten Oswald, responding in the Commons, said: “I was interested to hear the Prime Minister committing to an inquiry. He’ll be aware the First Minister already committed to this and of course the devolved administrations have tailored their decisions to their needs.”
She pointed to new figures from the Office for National Statistics which show the UK’s economy shrank by 1.5% in the first quarter of the year.
“This morning’s ONS figures demonstrate the depth of the plummet that’s being experienced by the economy and equally show the scale of the recovery needed.
“That’s why the glaring omission of an employment bill from the Queen’s Speech was so shocking – a clear signal of a UK Government with no recovery plan,” Oswald said.
The SNP MP urged Johnson to confirm three concrete measures to “kickstart the economy and help those still in need”.
She demanded that he U-turn on plans to abandon the furlough scheme in September, which she warned will result in a “damaging cliff edge” for millions of workers.
The Prime Minister was then told to commit to extending the £20 Universal Credit uplift beyond September.
Finally, she implored the PM to introduce legislation to scrap the “disgraceful practice” of “fire and rehire” in the UK.
Johnson refused to commit to any of the measures, but insisted his government was determined to go from “jabs, jabs, jabs to jobs, jobs, jobs”.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel