Dear @RishiSunak - I’m writing to make sure you don’t forget this Easter the thousands of self-employed who are paid via Ltd companies who you have so failed to help 1/ (cc @darrenpjones )

We are paid a minimum salary and top up as dividends on profits. All taxes and NI are paid as you well know.

We also run our businesses from our homes.

Our businesses require investment in building pipelines so keep the work flowing. 2/

Relief on business rates therefore doesn’t apply. I cannot take advantage of this. I recognise how important this is to other businesses however so I welcome it. 3/

Furloughing staff doesn’t really help me at all. I am my only employee. If I furlough myself, I will fail to earn for you ANd me for not just the lockdown period, but likely for months afterwards due to the importance of building that pipeline 4/

And 80% of my salary is nowhere near enough to live on. Tried living on £575 a month? Thought not. And to wait until June? Come on now. Not good enough.

So I welcome this furlough policy but it does nothing for me. 5/

Deferring VAT and Corp Tax is a reasonable idea but you’re simply kicking a big problem down the line. It’ll help immediate cash flow but you’re sure to want that money at some point, right? 6/

Mortgage holidays, universal credit are again very welcome measures. Mortgage holidays simply defer the problem; universal credit is complex. 7/

But instead of simply being picky about your policies, allow me to get practical.

What would help people like me? 8/

Temporary reduction in Corp Tax: frees up cash to keep me in operation. Reduce it to 10% for Feb-Sept; 0% even better. Of course, only any good if we’re earning... but still good 9/

VAT retention: allow my business a free quarter or HY. Again, only helps if I’m earning, but welcome. 10/

A directors parachute package: 50% of EARNINGS, not salary, to a limit of say £2500 or earnings as usual, whichever is the greater.

A payment that allows me to maintain the pipeline and if I win business, the option to accept so instantly reducing the burden on you. 11/

A universal income: a flat income to all payrolled directors of small Ltd businesses for each month of the crisis. Super easy to administer. 12/

So @RishiSunak, please don’t think your work is done on support for the self-employed. It’s not. There’s a great deal more you need to do. Help is still needed. End. 13/13