MP demands Chancellor acts as millions excluded from support schemes

The Resolution Foundation estimates that one in three people in self-employment, a total of 1.7 million, are at risk of losing their income - including around 330,000 in Scotland.

The Treasury Committee has put forward several recommendations on how the UK government could support those who have been left out of coronavirus support and urged it to “look at other models of support, including those developed by the devolved administrations.”

Ms Crawley said: “The Chancellor is failing miserably to follow through on his Government’s commitment that no-one would be left behind - as millions struggle to put food on the table and keep a roof over their head as a result of being left without a single penny of support for almost a year.

“Rishi Sunak must heed the widespread calls from cross-party MPs, anti-poverty campaigners and Excluded UK and bring in financial support for the self-employed and freelancers who are not eligible for support under the current coronavirus schemes.

"There is no excuse for this abject failure by the Tory government – our European neighbours have invested billions to support freelancers and the self-employed and the Scottish Government has used its limited powers to support people where it can.

"This whole debacle is yet another example of Scotland being left to tackle this crisis with one hand tied behind its back as Westminster withholds vital financial powers.”