MP warns of the stressed tourism as furlong tail off

Tuesday, July 6, 2021

Orkney and Shetland MP Alistair Carmichael explained that while furlough had protected many workers’ wages through the challenging times that we all are going through, targeted support was of tremendous urgency to help industries that are yet to reopen completely.

Mr. Carmichael made his comments as the furlough scheme is coming to an end with firms now having to take more responsibility of the costs.

To quote Mr. Carmichael, “We all know that the level of economic support given to closed-down businesses over the last year and a half cannot last forever and a gradual winding down is better than a cliff-edge. What is concerning, however, is that the government has continued to ignore those of us who have argued for targeted support for those industries that are not being allowed to reopen at the same pace as others.”

“Tourism and hospitality are not back to normal yet and indeed will not return to normal any time soon. If we leave these businesses in the lurch – stuck between an economic reality that they cannot operate at full throttle and an expectation that they must stand on their own two feet – then we cannot be surprised if there are unnecessary casualties. It will be hard to understand the logic of the furlough scheme if, having supported workers for over a year, we then do not give them proper support to get back to business.”

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