I’ve been contacted by many of the thousands of self-employed workers in St Helens North who urgently need Government help.

A large section of the country’s 4.9m self-employed workers have seen work or contracts completely collapse.

Our local tradesmen, construction workers, taxi drivers, hairdressers, cleaners, beauticians, musicians, freelancers, childminders and many others are facing serious, sudden financial hardship.

I’ve made direct representations to Treasury and Business Ministers to ask them to provide substantial emergency support to the self-employed, as they have already done for employed workers. People who have worked hard all their lives are facing a complete financial nightmare because of the coronavirus crisis and they need support.

I hope the Government will act now; they need to move fast as many people can’t wait.