Ministers are facing urgent pleas to help the millions of self-employed whose incomes have evaporated as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.

Pressure is growing on the government to provide financial assistance to freelancers, contractors and sole traders, whose businesses have been decimated by the COVID-19 crisis.

It follows warnings that the radical rescue package unveiled taken by Chancellor Rishi Sunak to cover most of the wages of workers who face losing their jobs as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, would fail to assist the self-employed.

Among those affected is writer Vikki Stone, who tweeted: “All the telly you are watching was made by the self-employed.

“All the theatre you watch was made by the self-employed.

“All the music you listen to was made by the self-employed.”

She ended with a plea to “help us”.

Describing herself as “one of the forgotten self-employed”, Nicole Humphrey pressed her local MP about her plight.

She wrote on Twitter: “What is the government going to do about those who’ve worked damn hard for everything & are likely to lose it all in these dark times.”

However, in a sign that help could be at hand, her MP for South West Devon Sir Gary Streeter, a senior Tory backbencher, responded that the government was aware of the situation and signalled assistance would be forthcoming.

He replied: “Treasury ministers are working up a plan for self employed. More details early next week. There will be help.”

In a bid to help the economy survive the pandemic, Mr Sunak announced the government would step in to pay people’s wages, with grants that will cover 80% of the salaries of retained workers – up to £2,500 a month.

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