Sunak’s high-handedness with freelancers shows his days as the star of the Covid crisis could be numbered

The chancellor’s failure to address repeated pleas to provide financial support for more than 1 million people has prompted rare criticism of the government’s golden boy, writes James Moore

The chancellor on a jobcentre visit: his lack of concern for freelancers has angered some quarters (Getty)

Mel Stride mightn’t be wielding a pitchfork anytime soon but the high-handed behaviour of the current government has at least moved him to starting thumping his desk.

“The chancellor has effectively drawn a line under helping the million-plus people who have been excluded from support for four months,” the Treasury Committee chair growls in a statement released this morning to coincide with the publication of Rishi Sunak’s response to his report on the gaps in the coronavirus job support measures.

“Despite stating that he will not pick winners and losers when it comes to sectors and businesses that need support, the chancellor has done this when it comes to households and individuals.”