OPINION ‘This is a time for us to pull together’ - SDLP MLA Sinead McLaughlin

My office has received many, many calls, emails and messages from businesses and employees. Firms are worried they will not get the loans they thought government had promised them. Some aren’t sure they can get through the month. Others can’t even get through to congested call centres to speak to their bank.

I have had discussions with the chief executives of two of Northern Ireland’s banks about these problems, not just for businesses but also for workers in distress. They have promised they will be flexible and helpful to customers. If they aren’t – please tell me about it! The banks have promised to consider extending the term of loans where customers request this. But they say they cannot provide loans to companies they do not believe will survive.

We have passed on complaints. In particular, we have recognised that many local firms were having difficulty obtaining business rates relief. We are hopeful the scheme will now be extended. And I wrote to economy minister Diane Dodds, urging her to push the UK government to make changes to their financial support schemes to businesses – changes which have mostly now been made.

But we must not make light of this. Many businesses will close down – that is likely to include shops, perhaps some of the largest ones. It may also include call centres, offices and property companies. I am very worried.

This is a time for us to pull together. Let us remember the spirit of co-operation and mutual help that has been demonstrated during the coronavirus crisis – and continue that as the economic crisis continues beyond the lockdown. Let us support local shops, local newspapers, local jobs.

Collective self-help is seeing us through this crisis. Let us use that spirit to sustain us as we emerge.