ExcludedUK Official@ExcludedUK
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
17 July 2026
ANDY BURNHAM PROMISES HOPE AND JUSTICE: EXCLUDEDUK SAYS THE 3.8 MILLION MUST NOT BE FORGOTTEN
The incoming Prime Minister must now turn years of support for ExcludedUK into meaningful action for the taxpayers, businesses and families still living with the consequences of being excluded from Covid-19 financial support.
ExcludedUK has welcomed Andy Burnham’s first speech as Labour leader, particularly his commitment to honesty, justice, economic renewal and restoring hope to the people and communities who have been failed by politics.
Burnham said Labour must put its power at the service of people and places that have been “waiting too long for politics to let them hope again”. (The Independent)
He also praised the progress made through the Hillsborough Law, formally the Public Office (Accountability) Bill, describing it as “the biggest rebalancing of the scales of justice this country has ever seen”. The Bill seeks to introduce a legal duty of candour for public officials and prevent the institutional defensiveness and cover-ups that have compounded the suffering of families following public tragedies. (The Guardian)
ExcludedUK believes those same principles of honesty, accountability and justice must now be applied to the decisions that excluded approximately 3.8 million UK taxpayers from parity of Covid-19 financial support.
During the pandemic, employees received furlough and many established self-employed workers received grants. However, limited company directors, newly self-employed people, PAYE freelancers, new starters, small businesses and others across more than 20 categories were denied equivalent support, despite paying their taxes and complying with the rules.
Many were told to borrow, use their savings or claim benefits which did not come close to replacing their lost income. Businesses failed, homes were lost, families were placed under intolerable strain, and lives were changed permanently and too many lost.
ExcludedUK is aware of at least 40 suicides linked to the trauma of exclusion. Its welfare team has also supported hundreds of people following suicide attempts and thousands more experiencing anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress, financial distress and suicidal thoughts. The organisation believes the true human cost is likely to be considerably higher.
Head of Member Welfare for ExcludedUK, Jennifer Griffiths, said:
“Andy Burnham has been our loudest political champion from the beginning of the ExcludedUK campaign. He has listened to our members, spoken publicly about the injustice they experienced and repeatedly helped to ensure that their voices were heard.
“We welcome his call to restore honesty, hope and justice to British politics. However, for the 3.8 million people excluded from parity of Covid-19 financial support, hope must now be accompanied by action.
“If the new government is serious about rebalancing the scales of justice, it cannot leave millions of taxpayers behind.
“These were people who dutifully paid into the system, followed every instruction and expected their government to support them during an unprecedented national emergency. Instead, they were deliberately left out at the moment they needed help the most.
“More than six years later, thousands are still carrying unmanageable debt, grieving for lost businesses, struggling with damaged health and trying to rebuild lives that were devastated by decisions made in Whitehall.
“At least 40 people connected with our campaign have died by suicide. No government can bring those lives back, but it can acknowledge what happened, accept responsibility and ensure that this injustice is never repeated.”
Supporting business must include the businesses that were excluded
ExcludedUK also welcomes Burnham’s emphasis on economic renewal, modern industries, employment and supporting British business.
However, the organisation warns that there can be no credible commitment to supporting small businesses without addressing the treatment of those that were denied help during the pandemic.
Company directors paid through dividends were frequently described as wealthy tax avoiders, despite many running small family businesses and earning modest incomes. Newly established businesses and recently self-employed workers were excluded because they lacked historic tax records. Freelancers and people moving between jobs fell through gaps created by arbitrary cut-off dates.
Many viable businesses survived only by taking on debt, including government-backed Bounce Back Loans. In contrast, those who received grants were able to restart after the pandemic, without the same financial burden.
Jennifer continued:
“Andy Burnham spoke about bringing hope back and building an economy that works for ordinary people, businesses and communities across every part of the country.
“That promise must include the small businesses, sole traders, freelancers and company directors who were abandoned during Covid.
“They did not fail because their businesses were unviable. They were forced to close by law, denied parity of support and then expected to carry the cost personally.
“You cannot build a fairer economy while ignoring thousands of business owners whose debt, ill health and financial insecurity were created or worsened by government policy.”
From longstanding support to government action
Burnham has supported ExcludedUK throughout much of its six-year campaign. He has hosted campaign discussions, publicly highlighted the unfairness experienced by excluded taxpayers and previously committed to supporting ExcludedUK’s engagement with the UK Covid-19 Inquiry and the re-establishment of the Gaps in Covid-19 Financial Support All-Party Parliamentary Group. (ExcludedUK)
At an ExcludedUK event in 2024, he told campaign members:
“The public see you and the public support you.”
ExcludedUK now calls on Burnham and the incoming government to turn that longstanding support into a clear programme of action, including:
• A formal government apology and acknowledgement of the injustice experienced by excluded taxpayers.
• Recognition of the financial, personal and consequential losses caused by exclusion.
• A credible route towards parity, redress and meaningful support for those still living with debt and hardship.
• Continued government engagement with ExcludedUK and the Gaps in Covid-19 Financial Support APPG.
• Full examination of the design and consequences of the Covid-19 support schemes, including their mental health impact.
• A commitment that no future emergency support scheme will exclude millions of taxpayers through arbitrary eligibility rules.
ExcludedUK was established in May 2020 to represent the estimated 3.8 million UK taxpayers who were denied parity of financial support during the pandemic. Its central message remains:
“We were dutifully paid in, but were deliberately left out.”
The organisation’s three principal requests are:
(1) government recognition and an apology
(2) parity of support
(3) acknowledgement of the loss of earnings, profits and consequential losses suffered by those affected.
Jennifer concluded:
“Andy Burnham has asked the country to believe that politics can give people hope again.
“For the millions who have spent six years waiting for recognition and justice, this is the moment to prove it.
“He has been our champion in opposition. We now need him to be our champion in government.
“The 3.8 million have waited long enough.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
ExcludedUK is a non-partisan grassroots organisation established in May 2020 to represent approximately 3.8 million UK taxpayers excluded from parity of Covid-19 financial support.
Those affected include limited company directors, newly self-employed workers, new starters, PAYE freelancers, sole traders, people taking parental leave, small businesses without rateable premises and others who fell between the eligibility rules of the principal support schemes.
ExcludedUK has provided peer support, welfare assistance and mental health intervention throughout the campaign.
For further information, visit excludeduk.org or contact admin@excludeduk.org
#ExcludedUK #relentless #wearenotgoingaway
