EXCLUDED: the national COVID-19 financial scandal

EXCLUDED: the national COVID-19 financial scandal

On 23rd March 2020, Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressed the nation on live TV announcing that the UK would enter into lockdown with immediate effect. 

We all remember it vividly.

By April 2020, Chancellor of The Exchequer Rishi Sunak unveiled the single largest financial support package the UK had ever seen, accompanied by this unforgettable statement: 

"To you I say this: you have not been forgotten, we will not let you behind. We all stand together."

Yet despite this assurance, some 3.8 million UK taxpayers were EXCLUDED from fair and equal financial support.

This national scandal saw communities of people left in utter despair through no fault of their own. People like James from Nottingham, a PAYE freelancer working in the live events industry; an industry that shut down in an instant and no previous employer would furlough him because of a contract technicality. Or Mandy from Uxbridge, who had taken the exciting leap into self-employment only months prior, but with no tax return to demonstrate her earnings, because it was too early to submit one. 

Lack of real, fair and meaningful financial support directly led to the breakdown of families, the loss of businesses and savings, homes and futures. 

These hardworking people are your neighbours. They weren’t “tax dodgers” and what happened to them is a travesty.

To date, ExcludedUK, the non-profit platform is aware of 37 known suicides, directly attributable to this government policy of exclusion.

So, what are we trying to achieve?

We need to fundraise for this television drama pilot in order to bring national attention to this travesty of fairness. We are a team of professionals, all of whom were EXCLUDED.

We have the full support and backing of ExcludedUK, the non-profit organisation that exists to create a collective platform for individuals and businesses entirely or largely EXCLUDED from the Government's COVID-19 financial support measures. Without their support, we couldn't tell this story; our story, their story.

This television drama pilot episode will portray the gritty and often unpleasant real-life experiences of our characters as lockdown unfolds, highlighting the devastating impact of the governments exclusion of this group of innocent people. From losing jobs and financial security overnight, to finding themselves homeless and destitute whilst witnessing their world crumble around them, the story captures the harsh realities faced by the people in this position.

EXCLUDED is the story the government failed to address, despite repeated pleas from MPs, the media and the wider public. The self-employed, particularly freelancers in the creative industries were among the hardest-hit, and even today they are still struggling to recover from the aftermath of being excluded from support.

Thousands remain in debt, homeless or with serious mental health needs as a direct consequence, yet they remain determined to get back on their feet. With all the odds stacked against them, the current cost of living crisis is another painful blow preventing this journey to recovery. 

Supported in this endeavour by ExcludedUK, this production will exclusively employ individuals from the EXCLUDEDUK group, ensuring they are fairly paid and given any support they need to succeed. Any funds remaining after the pilot is produced will be donated to ExcludedUK for use at their discretion, to further their essential support work.

Thank you for your time, and we hope you will support us in bringing this travesty against decent, hardworking people into the national discussion.