Steve Reed – 2020 Statement on Mocking Helpline Callers

Below is the text of the statement issued by Steve Reed, the Shadow Communities and Local Government Secretary, on 27 April 2020.

These reports are extremely distressing. A full investigation must be launched immediately.

If vulnerable people who call the helpline are not getting the support they need, the programme must be overhauled.

The Government rushed to set up the shielding programme as a national scheme instead of integrating it with existing call centres and local support run by councils and charities that know their neighbourhoods better. We need a scheme that’s better integrated with local support to avoid the mistakes the Government is making.