UK government must outlaw controversial 'fire and rehire' tactics

Kevin Brennan MP is fully behind Unite's campaign to end 'fire and rehire' practices and joined a number of MPs in writing to the Prime Minister to take urgent action to outlaw the controversial tactic.

The TUC found that already one in 10 workers had been threatened with fire and rehire during the pandemic, with that number set to grow dramatically as furlough ends unless the law is changed.

In the letter, in which Mr Brennan was a co-signatory, it says:

“Fire and rehire is spreading through workplaces, with now an estimated one in ten UK workers undergoing a threat to their jobs.

But it is rarely, if ever, implemented as a response to business need. Indeed, one employer attempt­ing to force through cuts to terms and conditions has just recorded record profits.  

“One minister has described fire and rehire as ‘bully boy tactics'. Unless something is done urgently it will only accelerate further putting unnecessary stress and strain on families across the UK.  

“UK workers should have the same protections as workers in other countries. Fire and rehire is out­lawed in much of Europe and it should be no different here.”

Bloomberg Radio interview about politics on their Westminster Programme

Speech on Covid-19 and the cultural and entertainment sectors

Covid-19: Cultural and Entertainment Sectors
2nd March 2021.

I, too, welcome back to the House my dear friend and constituency neighbour, the shadow Secretary of State, my hon. Friend Jo Stevens.

I wish to make four quick points. First, others have mentioned the plight of freelance musicians and artists, who have been excluded from support because they do not fit the Chancellor’s criteria for support. The criteria were drawn up hastily, and there was an excuse for that, but they were not amended when it was clear that they had arbitrary and negative consequences—for which there is no excuse—for many artists, musicians and others. Tomorrow, the Chancellor has another chance to put that right. In Wales, funds were set aside to help freelancers, but what is really needed is action from the Chancellor to support those who have been excluded, as called for by the Musicians’ Union and others.

Secondly, we have missed the live music sector and could all do with a summer of live music events and festivals. The issue of insurance has already been mentioned in the debate. Last week, I received a written answer from the Minister for Digital and Culture that said:

“As such, HM Treasury does not believe that now is the right time for an insurance intervention.”

Well, if this is not the right time for an insurance intervention, there never will be an insurance intervention from the Treasury. This is typical Treasury orthodox thinking. Now is the time for an insurance intervention to make sure that we can have live music back this summer. It would be the best boost not only for the industry but for morale and the economy.

Thirdly, covid has been hard enough for the music industry in itself but, combined with the negligent no-deal Brexit for musicians and touring artists, it is a double dose of disaster. Covid was unavoidable; the consequences of a failure to do a deal on touring were not only avoidable and predictable but predicted. A small window now remains to fix that before many successful British businesses are ruined by this negligence. That should be a priority for the Government.

Finally, let me look to the future. Covid has killed live music, but it can be revived. As we have heard, covid has also shone a light on the inequities of the new economics of music streaming and how it is failing to deliver for music songwriters and composers. The House may know that the DCMS Committee is conducting an inquiry into the matter. Some change is happening already—at 2 pm today, SoundCloud announced that it is going over to fan-powered royalties and a user-centric system, which is a step forward by the industry—but as well as the industry the Government should be prepared, if necessary, to reform the law in favour of creators and away from wealthy corporate market powers. They have been enjoying a gold rush from streaming; after the gold rush, let’s have a “new home in the sun” for our brilliant musicians and songwriters.

Government need to support the 3.8m people excluded from support schemes

 

Government should include insurance for live events in Budget

 

Government should provide the underwriting to help summer festivals plan to reopen

Government need to urgently help those excluded from support schemes

DCMS Cmte inquiry looking at the post-covid future of music festivals

MP furious that UK government's latest scheme won't help all freelancers

Creative Industries: Covid-19
Digital, Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons
24th September 2020

Kevin Brennan Labour, Cardiff West
I am afraid that what has been trailed by the Treasury in the media today will not do anything to help those in the creative industries who cannot work because of covid restrictions, whether in music venues, comedy clubs or theatres, or any of the freelance workers in the sector who already receive no help at all, as we saw from the Musicians Union survey this week. When will the help that has already been promised in the package the Minister mentioned actually arrive for people in the sector, and will the new scheme be targeted to supply life support to our genuinely world-beating creative industries?


Caroline Dinenage Minister of State
The Government’s world-class support package has included the self-employed income support scheme, and about two thirds of our sector have been covered by that. Then, of course, there are the very generous extensions to universal credit as well. However, we know that it is very distressing for those who have fallen between the gaps. That is why Arts Council England has made an additional £95 million of additional support available for individuals who are affected.

Interview on Covid-19 and the fake news infodemic

Government needs to do more to help consumers get holiday refunds

Kevin Brennan MP has joined the consumer organisation Which? and a cross-party group of MPs in writing to the government and asking them to provide urgent help to people who are struggling to get refunds for their cancelled holiday.

Welsh miners and their families shouldn't lose compensation due to Covid-19

Kevin Brennan has joined Welsh Labour MPs in writing to the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock MP, in urging the UK government to ensure all miners who sadly die from Covid-19 due to industrial illness have it recorded on their death certificate to ensure their families are entitled to compensation.

Letter to constituents: Cummings is not fit to be a top level public servant

No one should be punished because they were due to start a new job

Kevin Brennan MP is backing a campaign to help people who were due to start a new job after February, but due to the coronavirus have either lost the job or are not receiving government help.

Kevin said, "Too many people are falling between the gaps of government help in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak."

"I have received correspondence from several constituents who were due to start a new job after the Chancellor's cut-off date of February 28th.

"In many cases their future employer has not taken them on because they would be ineligible for the furlough scheme - this is unacceptable.

"That's why I've joined forces with a group of cross-party MPs and signed New Starter Justice's letter below calling on the Chancellor to remove the cut-off date and allow these people to be part of the furlough scheme.

"They have done nothing wrong and should not be punished for it.No one should be left behind"

Here is New Starter Justice's letter which Kevin has signed:


Dear Chancellor,

We are New Starter Justice –the voice for the new starters your Job Retention Scheme has left behind. You may have heard of us. You certainly haven’t listened.

We don’t envy your task. It’s never easy to start a new job, and you’ve certainly been thrown in at the deep end, immediately faced with the responsibility of steering the nation through an unprecedented economic challenge. We imagine when you started your new position, you were excited for the future and the opportunities it would present. The current situation must feel a world away from that. This is, perhaps, a small something we have in common.

We have felt the excitement of better prospects too—except ours have turned into a living nightmare. Through no fault of our own, we are left without work, income or financial security. All because we stepped forward into what we thought might be a brighter future.

Our campaign represents a vast collective of individuals from all sectors and backgrounds. Every day, the number of people you seem to have forgotten grows. We now estimate in excess of one million people have fallen through the cracks of this policy. And now, as our incomes start to dry up, our families are suffering too. Is this fair?

Over a month ago, you made the first announcement about the Job Retention Scheme. You made a direct promise that each and every person would “not be left behind”. It provided the nation with the comfort that we needed as we faced these difficult times.

Unfortunately, you have failed to deliver on this promise to over a million families and, despite thousands of us calling out to you, you have yet to acknowledge our fears. How can you continue to publicly laud the Job Retention Scheme as a roaring success, when it leaves so many at risk of losing everything?

When you announced your policies to save UK jobs, hidden amongst the fanfare was a stipulation that those who started—or were due to start—new jobs following 28th February would be ineligible for the Job Retention Scheme, despite our new employers being desperate to access the grant to retain us. This leaves us both struggling in the present and scared for the future. How can you fail so many workers and employers?

As you have scrambled to plaster over the cracks in other hastily-made policies, those in the Job Retention Scheme are left open and ignored. To date, your proposed solutions to address these gaps in the scheme are wholly inadequate.

First, you suggested we approach our former employers to re-hire us to immediately place us on furlough. A survey of over 8,000 members showed that this was unsuccessful for 96% of us. The process of returning to our employers, begging and pleading, was an embarrassing and inhumane proposal. Many left following experiences of bullying, discrimination and abuse. You forced them to return, ‘cap in hand’, understanding that this would be the only way to provide safety and security for their families. This solution, which you continue to suggest, simply isn’t viable. It’s emotional torture. We invite you to take a second to imagine how that would feel.

You then asked us to apply for Universal Credit. Yet the vast majority of us have been told we are not eligible for this support. And for those that are, the amount offered does not cover a fraction of our household bills. Whilst we appreciate that many people rely on the Universal Credit system day-to-day, we have always worked. We have built lives for ourselves that are reliant on our incomes. The amount offered to those few who have been told they are eligible will not keep a roof over their heads, pay their bills or feed their families. Why should we be expected to live on less than 10% of our income (if we’re lucky) when others are offered 80%—just because of unfortunate timing?

A small glimmer of hope emerged when you announced an amendment to the scheme. For a moment, we thought our voice had finally been heard. On the surface, this appeared to be an extension of the ‘cut-off date’ to 19th March. Initial elation turned quickly soured as it proved to be nothing more than a smoke screen. The requirement for our RTI to have been submitted to HMRC by this date means it offers no hope to those who are paid on a monthly basis – over 84% of the workforce. It was a mere clarification that only helped a small proportion of those who you had left behind. In fact, it took that support away from many who would have previously been eligible. Your treasury reported that this would provide support for an additional 200,000 people–a figure that has been widely debunked. You have left millions of families feeling abandoned, desperate and frustrated. How can you continue to ignore us?

You argue, in defense, that to extend the scheme to save us would leave it open to fraud. Yet by your own admission, you have the capabilities to mitigate against such crime and have systems in place to carry out checks. You allow this for the self-employed. You allow this for TUPEd workers. But you choose not to allow this for new starters, despite it being proven as possible. You openly admit this, but dismiss it as an administrative ‘burden’. Are millions of people and their families not worth the time or effort?

You have brushed us aside and written us off. And you have remained suspiciously quiet on acknowledging the flaws in your policy or the millions of people they will impact. We can assure you, we will not stay so quiet.

We are the taxpayers that you repeatedly state you must protect. For our entire working lives, each and every one of us has supported the government. Like everybody else, we will continue to pay the cost of COVID-19 for years to come. It is so undeniably right that the government must provide us with equal support through this crisis too. How can you show such blatant disregard for the taxpayers you claim to respect so much?

The stories we hear every day from our members, each one heartbreaking and desperate, highlight the number of ways people fall through the cracks in the Job Retention Scheme. They show that a ‘cut-off’ date isn’t a viable solution for all. Our members may be in a variety of different situations, yet we all have something in common: contractual proof of employment. We have signed contracts. We have offer letters. We have tax records. So many have attended work, for days, weeks, and have paid taxes on the earnings through payrolls but you fail to accept that as proof. Many were not even lucky enough to get the opportunity to start, left in limbo and waiting for this living nightmare to end. But both our past and present details and contributions are logged on HMRC systems. The evidence is available and so clearly displays that a solution that works for all is achievable. We have proof. We’ve done everything right—so why are you punishing us?

We do not profess to have the answers. We’re not policy makers. That’s your job. We are the families facing poverty because you took our jobs away.

You are disregarding us as collateral damage, Chancellor. We rely on you to support us through this and right now, you are failing us. We will not accept this any longer. How far are you going to push us?

People will suffer, homes will be lost, and children will go hungry as a direct result of this neglect. You are pushing millions of people to the edge. Reports show that 100,000 people attempt suicide each year due to debt and financial hardship. Will it take somebody to end their life before you listen to us? Could you live with that on your shoulders?

It’s not too late. All we ask is that you keep the promise you made and that you do the right thing.

Please, do not leave us behind.





New Starter Justice

Government needs ro raise SEISS threshold to help self-employed dentists

Some dentists face losing their practice unless they receive government help.

Kevin Brennan MP is calling on the UK government to raise the SEISS threshold to allow more self-employed people to get the help they need.

New evidence suggest that over three-quarters of dentists will receive not support from government support schemes. In particular, many self-employed dentists earned just above the £50,000 threshold for support through the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS). Dental practices are also not eligible for business rates relief and many do not qualify for a small business grant. This has left dentists with no option but to apply for a Coronavirus Interruption Loan (CBIL). However over 90% of applicants were unable to secure credit.

While some will get support from the NHS those in private practises do not and will not be able to access financial help.

The UK government needs to prevent health professionals, such as dentists, and other professionals who are vital to our communities. This is why I have joined Fleur Anderson MP’s campaign in urging the UK government to prevent this by:

1)      Raising the £50,000 cap on support through SEISS

2)      Intervening to ensure easier access to the CBIL scheme

3)      Extend business rates relief to all practices.

Key measures are needed to help local taxi drivers

Taxi drivers need help from the government.

Kevin Brennan MP has written to the Chancellor after receiving representations from local taxi drivers who are being backed by UNITE the Union.

Many of the drivers have been badly hit by their loss of trade in the current crisis and are facing genuine hardship and financial distress despite measures the government has already introduced.

Mr Brennan has written to the UK government and urged them to look at a number of measures and issues which local taxi drivers have raised.

These include:

• Wage support is needed straight away without having to wait until June.

• No means testing of Universal Credit or other benefits.

• Suspending or reducing all taxi related running costs, including licence plate fees, monthly radio fees, rental fees and insurance payments for taxis not on the road. This would include lifting the age limit on vehicles for those that may need to be changed within this next three months, to be suspended until late December.

• Backing loan repayment holidays for private hire vehicles and moratoriums on marking down drivers’ credit files.

• Emergency interim payments to keep the taxi on the road.

• Reviewing the licensing regime and stop all payments for licences, with a three month temporary extension for those expected to renew in the next 12 months.

It is important to know that Hackney cabs are fully licenced and DBS checked, clean, safe and wheelchair accessible. They are also equipped with a glass partition separating driver from passenger. The Government could also help by sub-contracting taxi drivers, as appropriate, to do the following important work:

• Transport patients to and from non-emergency appointments.
• Deliver shopping for the elderly or transport them to and from supermarkets
• Transport NHS and other groups of key workers to work
• Where appropriate delivering medical supplies.

A guide to staying connected whilst working from home

Modern technology has made it easier to work from home.

Ofcom has published some advice and guidance for those trying to stay connected whilst working from home. For more details you can visit their website here.

These are Ofcom's seven steps:

1. Use your landline or wifi calls if you can
More people are making calls on their mobile network during the day. Because of this high demand, you may find you get a more reliable connection using your landline. If you do need to use your mobile, try using your settings to turn on ‘wifi calling’. Some smartphones and mobile packages  allow your phone to make calls over your broadband network, which often provides the best sound quality and also helps reduce demand on the mobile network. Similarly, you can make voice calls over the internet using apps like Facetime, Skype or WhatsApp.

2. Move your router clear of other devices
Keep your router as far away as possible from other devices, and those which operate wirelessly. Cordless phones, baby monitors, halogen lamps, dimmer switches, stereos and computer speakers, TVs and monitors can all affect your wifi if they’re too close to your router. Did you know that microwave ovens can also reduce wifi signals? So don’t use the microwave when you’re making video calls, watching HD videos or doing something important online. Also, place your router on a table or shelf rather than on the floor, and keep it switched on.

3. Lower the demands on your connection
The more devices attached to your wifi, the lower the speed you get. Devices like tablets and smartphones often work in the background, so try switching wifi reception off on these when you’re not using them. If you’re carrying out video calls or meetings, turning the video off and using audio will require much less of your internet connection; or try starting them at less common times, rather than on the hour or half hour. You might also want to manage your family’s online activity, so that different people aren’t carrying out data-heavy tasks (like HD streaming, gaming or video calls) all at the same time. Downloading video in advance, instead of streaming it, can also help.

4. Try wired rather than wireless
For the best broadband speeds, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer directly to your router rather than using wifi. This is a computer networking cable which should give you a faster, more reliable connection. They’re available from as little as £3.

5. Plug your router directly into your main phone socket
Where possible, try not to use a telephone extension lead, as these can cause interference which could lower your speed. If you have to use an extension lead, use a new, high-quality cable with the shortest possible length. Tangled and coiled cables can also affect speeds. So can interference from your phone line, so try plugging ‘microfilters’ into every phone socket in your home. They look like little white boxes and split the phone and broadband signals so that they don't affect each other. Different providers have varying setups in the home, so always check their website before unplugging any cables.

6. Test the speed on your broadband line
Find out what speed you’re actually getting. You can run a speed test using Ofcom’s official mobile and broadband checker. If possible, carry out tests over a few days and at different times of day. A number of in-home factors can affect wifi speeds, so look on your provider’s website for guidance on improving your signal around the home. You can download Ofcom’s checker as a smartphone app (search Ofcom in Apple’s app store or Google Play) or use it through your internet browser.

7. Get advice from your broadband provider
Then, if your connection isn’t working as well as it should, you can find advice on your broadband provider’s website – which is also available on mobile phones. If you need to contact them for help, please be aware that, because of coronavirus, some companies have many fewer people to help with your queries. Most are prioritising vulnerable customers and essential public services, so please take this into consideration.

Extra protection for renters during the Covid-19 outbreak

While housing is normally a devolved issue, Welsh Government announced that any strengthening of protection for renters in the Coronavirus Bill drafted by the UK Government would also be applied in Wales for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Coronavirus Bill recently passed through Parliament and extends the notice period for evictions in the private rented sector from 2 months to 3 months, ensuring landlords cannot apply to start the court process until after this period.

While initially the extension of the eviction notice period only applied to new eviction proceedings, the UK Government gave way to the pressure from the Labour Party and suspended all ongoing eviction proceedings in the courts. This means that cases currently in the courts, or about to enter the court system cannot proceed. This suspension will last for an initial 90 days with an option to extend.

However, this new legislation does not go far enough to ensure that renters who experience financial difficulty as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic do not lose their homes

My colleague in the Welsh Assembly and First Minister, Mark Drakeford together with his ministerial team have since decided to go further, with plans to extend the notice period under section 173 – Landlord’s Notice – for no-fault evictions from 2 months to 6 months, and are extending the restriction of the issuing of this notice from 4 months 6 months after the occupation of a contract currently making its way through the Welsh Assembly.

This all means that such eviction notices cannot be made until 6 months after the beginning of a ‘periodic standard contract’ – the default contract used by private landlords, and court proceedings will not be allowed to begin until 6 months after this, effectively protecting private tenants from eviction for 12 months from the beginning of their contract.

This is designed to allow contract holders to find optimal alternative accommodation in the eventuality of a no-fault eviction, decreasing the likelihood that families will having to leave their communities with children having to change schools.

Furthermore, these changes will, it is expected, encourage landlords to use, where relevant, the breach of contract possession ground. While this only requires a one-month notice period, it allows the tenant(s) to present their case at court. This means that the court could decide not to grant possession to the landlord where there are good reasons for breaches of the contract, for example a delay in benefits caused the rent to be late.  I believe that these measures will provide many renters with peace of mind during these deeply uncertain and worrying times.

Tenants with financial difficulties as a result of Covid-19 should speak in the first instance to their landlord to attempt to reach an agreement, but the additional measures introduced by Welsh Labour are also there to support tenants.

If you have received a notice of eviction which does not comply with this new legislation, or are worried that your landlord or agent is operating unlawfully, you can also contact:

Citizen’s Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us/

Advicelink Cymru: 03444 772 020

(phone lines operate between 9am-5pm Monday to Friday and it is usually busiest at the beginning and the end of the day. They are not open on public holidays)

Text relay: 03444 111 445

Shelter Cymru: https://sheltercymru.org.uk/contact-us/

Housing help/advice and expert debt advice: 08000 495 495 (phone lines operate between 9.30am – 4.00pm, Monday to Friday)

Blog: Why charities are important during this crisis and need help

Kevin is pictured with weatherman Derek Brockway at Pedal Power.

When representatives of UK Charities appeared as witnesses before the first ever virtual meeting of the Digital Culture Media and Sport Select Committee this week it wasn't the first time I'd heard the sector's pleas for help in a crisis.

At the time of the great financial crash I was Gordon Brown's Minister for the Third Sector, based back then in the Cabinet Office. It became clear to me at that time that in a severe economic downturn charities face a different dilemma to business. When the economy tanks most businesses are hit by a fall in revenue due to falling consumer demand.

It's true that charities also lose revenue in an economic downturn, as consumers tighten their belts and reduce charitable donations. Charity begins at home when family cash is short, and the Coronavirus crisis is even worse because charity shops cannot trade and fundraising gatherings can't be held. At the select committee Karl Wilding of NCVO told us the sector expected to lose £4bn, or a third of revenue, in the next 3 months.

But unlike many businesses the demand from communities for charities' services actually increases at a time of economic crisis; even more so when it is also a public health crisis hitting the most vulnerable the hardest.

Recognising this back in 2008/9 I worked with charities to devise a £42.5m Third Sector Action Plan called Real Help Now.  The idea was to assist the sector through the crisis not just with a hand out but a hand up, with support for modernisation, resilience, volunteering and social enterprise.  The Government also pledged that the public sector would pay its bills on time to charities which deliver large swathes of public services for national and local government, including the NHS.

But today's task is on a scale much greater than even the great credit crunch, and the Chancellor Rishi Sunak needs to act fast.  Too often charities are an afterthought when they are in fact central to resilience and recovery.

So what is to be done? Here are a few ideas.

Firstly where charities have to furlough staff due to lack of funds an exemption should be made to allow front line workers in the community to continue to volunteer.   This is not an abuse as it might be where a business is trading while the Government is paying much of the wage bill, but rather one way that we can continue to help the most vulnerable while helping charities to survive.

Secondly a significant UK wide ‘Stabilisation Fund’ is needed from the Treasury with charities expecting to lose at least a third of their income in the next 3 months. Perhaps the new National Emergency Trust could be rapidly endowed as a vehicle to distribute relief to charities. At the committee we were told it currently only has £11m in it. This would enable charities to stay afloat and continue operating during the course of the pandemic and beyond.

Thirdly the Chancellor should provide an exemption to the 50% trading activity requirement under the Business Interruption Loan Scheme so that many voluntary organisations can benefit too and have a bridge to the future.

Fourthly  there should be specific additional funding for organisations that are working on the front line and directly contributing to tackle the impact of the coronavirus.

Back in 2009 I said, "The third sector is brilliant at knowing how best to provide real help for people who need it most. We need to make the most of the skills and expertise the sector has to offer - helping people through times of challenge and change, finding new and more equitable ways of doing business through social enterprises, and empowering people to transform their lives and their communities. That's why we are acting to invest in helping the third sector get stronger now and in the future.'

Those words are truer than ever at a time when charities, social enterprises and credit unions are at the front line of the fight of our lives. The government must recognise this and act with urgency.

Government needs to do more to help stranded constituents

British Citizens Abroad: FCO Help to Return Home
24 March 2020
Volume 674

Kevin Brennan (Cardiff West) (Lab)
I also have constituents stranded in Vietnam, Australia, Bolivia and Costa Rica, but I want to ask about the travel advice the right hon. Gentleman issued yesterday. Where UK citizens abroad have an underlying health condition and feel it would be better not to travel home and are able to stay, perhaps because they are with family, for example, does his advice potentially invalidate their insurance if they choose to stay and subsequently become ill? 

Dominic Raab
I cannot comment on individual cases, but I understand exactly the hon. Gentleman’s concern. That is why, when we have changed travel advice, we have always said that people have to take into account the circumstances and look at the pros and cons of staying put if they have accommodation, financial resilience and medical support, as opposed to returning home, depending on how quickly and easily that will be to do. Of all the various things I can do, I do not want to give medical advice. In terms of insurance, the standard terms of insurance tend to follow the travel advice rather than the other way around. What we cannot do—there are legal reasons for this—is base our decisions on anything other than the risks to British nationals abroad.