It has been reported that many musicians and freelancers are lobby for further help from the UK government as they “face using food banks” as the UK’s second lockdown commenced yesterday (05/11/2020). Before the lockdown came into effect but was announced it was revealed that the furlough and Self-Employed Income Support Scheme (SEISS) would be extended and continued respectively.

Last month (October 2020) a large gathering of musicians staged a protest outside of parliament over the lack of help and funding from the government as they had previously had let the entertainment and creative industries go under the carpet and forgot about them. It wasn’t helped by comments made by Rishi Sunak telling musicians and other creatives to retrain rather than help them more like other industries and schemes like the furlough scheme.

It was reported earlier in the week here at mxdwn UK that the government will continue the SEISS for the creative industries and although that was great for a lot of self-employed and freelancers to hear it still hasn’t helped to properly fund them through lockdown and the pandemic. It also isn’t helped by the fact that the earliest that people can apply to claim the SEISS is at the end of November on the 30th meaning that they will go almost the whole of the second lockdown without any help.

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The extension of #furlough and #SEISS is fantastic news for many of our members, and we’re delighted that the Chancellor @RishiSunakMP listened to our campaign and lobbying calls. Now it’s time to close the gaps in support that 38% musicians and 3 million #ExcludedUK fall through. Take action now! Write to your MP Find out how at the link in bio. [Image description: carousel of four photographs from the Let Music Live demo in Parlimant Square on Tuesday 6 October 2020. Photo 1: rows of musicians in red masks hold their positions during a two minute silence Photo 2: a young percussionist holds still with his timpani mallets in the air during the two minute silence Photo 3: rows of musicians in red masks hold their positions during a two minute silence Photo 4: a woman in a black face mask and black clothes looking to camera. Behind her are musicians and videographers. She is holding a home made sign that says: arts and culture contribute ten point eight billion a year to the economy #WeAreViable #LetMusicLive Photo 5: Chair of the Musicians’ Union Executive Committee and horn player Dave Lee tunes up. A man in a black suit and mask is photobombing over Dave’s shoulder. In the background hundreds of musicians in socially distant rows get ready for the performance] #MusicDeservesBetter #LetTheMusicPlay #ExcludedUK #ForgottenFreelancers #ForgottedLTD #WeMakeEvents #WeAreViable #DIYMusician #FreelanceMusician #Covid19UK #CoronavirusUK #OrchestralMusician #FreelanceLife #Activist #TradeUnion #KeepMusicLive #BehindEveryMusician

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As it stands the musicians union and other creative industries unions are initially happy with the government’s U-turn on wanting to help the creative industries. However, it hasn’t hit the mark that is the difference between survival and certain individual’s potential hitting hard times. With some potentially having to use food banks others are concern with being able to pay bills and supporting families.

Many MPs have spoken about the neglect shown to the creative arts throughout both lockdowns and the pandemic. As reported on the BBC “Labour MP Chris Elmore told the House of Commons there were “growing numbers of freelancers, musicians, performance artists who are excluded” from support.” Despite the help that has been given there is a stark difference between and the furlough scheme and SEISS.

Where the furlough scheme helps businesses pay 80% of workers wages the SEISS works differently and base it on the average of what a self-employed freelancer makes in a given time frame and gives a percentage. Bear in mind that a lot of self-employed and freelancers work more than one job even taking on more than one in one day to make ends meet.

It has also been reported by The Equity performers’ union that around 40% of its members have been deemed ineligible for the SEISS. It is obvious that no one can truly be prepared for a pandemic however, it gets to a point where freelancers and the self-employed have been neglected and lead some to really lose faith in the government and even think that it is deliberate (given the Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak’s comments)