The government’s slow and incoherent response to this pandemic could hit areas like ours hardest.

The window is closing to protect people’s livelihoods and we need an urgent package of economic measures in response, with a focus on jobs, jobs, jobs.

There were 6,360 people in Dagenham and Rainham claiming Universal Credit and other benefits in May, a rise of 136.4 per cent since the outbreak of coronavirus.

The Job Retention Scheme supports 13,000 of the working age population across Dagenham and Rainham, whilst 7,300 are using the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

I called for these schemes, but now I am concerned about their abrupt withdrawal which risks pushing many into unemployment.

We need a strategic withdrawal of support schemes tailored to the needs of specific sectors not the one size fits all solution being paraded by the Tories. This approach will not work for sectors like hospitality.

Reopened pubs, restaurants and cafes are operating well below capacity, and their fortunes are closely linked to the decisions that are taken on social distancing.

It makes no sense to withdraw support for the 2,520 hospitality workers in Dagenham and Rainham alongside other sectors that are operating as normal, which need less support.

It is inevitable that there will be job losses due to the coronavirus, but I will be working with local authorities and the voluntary sector to ensure my constituents can get back on their feet.

I am urging the government to rethink their plans.